Shakib to miss SL series for IPL
The ace all-rounder wrote to the BCB asking for the leave, which the board agreed to.
Shakib Al Hasan is set to miss the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka to take part in the 14th edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) starting from April 11. The Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) cricket operations head Akram Khan confirmed the news.
Shakib was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 3.2 crores in the auction on Thursday.
The ace all-rounder wrote to the BCB asking for the leave, which the board agreed to.
"Shakib wants to play T20s at the moment," said Akram Khan.
"He doesn't want to play Tests. He has asked for a leave for the IPL. We also don't want to force someone who doesn't want to play Tests, which is why the board has decided to grant him the leave."
Bangladesh's Test series against Sri Lanka that was postponed indefinitely twice last year due to the pandemic and isolation issues, is being planned in April to keep up with the ICC's extended World Test Championship (WTC) deadline. The schedule hasn't been fixed yet. Since BCB is granting Shakib leave, it seems the two series may begin almost at the same time.
The BCB had reportedly set an IPL window for Bangladesh's cricketers till May 19.
Shakib returned to international cricket through the series against Windies last month after serving his one-year ban. He had a good time before sustaining strain in his left thigh and missed the last Test where he saw his team losing massively.