Shakib picked for NZ tour despite asking for leave

Shakib Al Hasan has been picked for Bangladesh’s two-match Test series against New Zealand in January as Bangladesh Cricket Board announced an 18-man squad for the away series.

There were rumours in the country’s cricketing arena that Shakib had asked BCB for leave from this series, and thus he wouldn’t travel to New Zealand with the side.

Though Shakib was included in the squad for the Test series, his playing is still up in the air as BCB President Nazmul Hassan told the media on Saturday that Shakib has asked for a leave unofficially.

“He (Shakib) hasn’t informed us officially. He told us unofficially. We told him to inform us officially. He has to give a reason,” he said.

This means even though Shakib is in the squad, the star all-rounder travelling to New Zealand is unsure as it depends on him asking for leave officially and BCB accepting it.

Two players were dropped from the Bangladesh squad for their second Test against Pakistan for the New Zealand series. Off-spinner Nayeem Hasan and young pacer Rejaur Rahman Raja, who had been picked for the national team for the first time in the Tigers’ series against Pakistan, has been axed.

Saif Hasan, who missed out on the second Test against Pakistan due to being infected with Typhoid, has also been left out for the New Zealand series.

The team will travel to New Zealand on December 9. The first Test will start on January 1, 2022, at the Bay Oval in Tauranga. The second Test will start on January 9 at Christchurch.