Shakib to play in South Africa series

After days of uncertainty and dramatic turns, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Saturday confirmed that allrounder Shakib Al Hasan will be available for the South Africa tour for a three-match ODI and two-match Test series. 

“We have talked to Shakib today. He is available for the South Africa tour. He will take a flight tomorrow,” Nazmul Hasan, the BCB president, told the media on Saturday at Mirpur when Shakib was standing beside him. 

The South Africa tour will begin with the ODI series with the first match is scheduled to take place on March 18. 

Bangladesh will play at least 14 ODIs, 15 T20Is and eight Tests in 2022. So it will be tough for the senior players to take part in all these matches. Considering their workload, they may take rest, said Nazmul. 

“We have to remember that the senior players go through tremendous pressure. It’s tough for our senior players to play all these matches. It’s true. We have to understand it. I believe the players need some break,” the BCB president added. 

During the third ODI against Afghanistan, Shakib told the board president that he is available for the South Africa tour. But after the announcement of the squads, he said he is not mentally fit to play international cricket for now. 

He also said that he needs some break from cricket. According to his condition, BCB had approved a two-month leave for him as well. But as per the latest move, he is not going to take any leave. 

“We, myself and the board president, have discussed many things over the last three days. We have now finalized a year-long plan. Since I’m contracted to play all three formats, I will be available for the same. The board will decide when it’s required to rest me, and I’m also available from this South Africa tour,” Shakib told the media. 

The allrounder also said he is feeling good mentally and he would be in a better situation after going to a better environment in South Africa. 

All the members of the Bangladesh team who are in the squads for the South Africa tour, have already left Dhaka in different groups. Shakib will now have to travel alone. 

This is not the first time when chaos took place regarding Shakib’s foreign tour. In 2017, Shakib missed the Test part of the South Africa tour. He also missed the last two tours of New Zealand. The allrounder also skipped a series against Sri Lanka to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL).