Home ›› 08 Mar 2022 ›› Sport
Bangladesh Cricket Board top officials are in limbo after they came to know that Shakib Al Hasan wants to take a break from cricket because the all-rounder is not mentally and physically prepared to carry on.
Shakib left for Dubai on Sunday night with officials from handset manufacturing company OPPO. He posted on his verified Facebook page, ‘Fantastic tour started with OPPO’. Before leaving the country, Shakib told the journalists at the airport that he needs a break from cricket.
“To talk about the South Africa series at the current mental and physical condition, I think I can’t play international cricket at this moment. That’s why I am thinking that if I get a break from cricket and if that ignites the interest again in me, only then it will be easier for me to play cricket again,” he said at the airport.
There was confusion around his availability in the South Africa series, especially in the Test series which clashes with the schedule of the Indian Premier League. Shakib previously skipped the Test series against Sri Lanka to play in the IPL last year and it was a possibility this time too, but he remained unsold in the auction.
After the snubbing, BCB president Nazmul Hassan told the media that Shakib will be available and the selectors also included him, but the sudden change put the officials in limbo.
On Monday, the BCB President clearly expressed his displeasure about Shakib asking to not play in South Africa.
“If he is out of form, and unwilling to play, then he could have said he won’t play. Where is the problem? He says after playing that he didn’t enjoy it, that he doesn’t have the interest or motivation. Then why did you play? Tell these to us. If he is mentally devastated, then why was he going to play in the IPL? If it was such, then he should have said that he won’t play in the IPL as well. Imagine he was bought at the IPL auction. Would he have said that he is mentally devastated?” Nazmul told the media.
At the airport, Shakib said that he agreed with Nazmul about playing in South Africa, but things have changed.
“I have talked with Papon Bhai (Nazmul Hasan) and agreed to play. But right now, my mental and physical conditions are such that... Maybe I will skip the ODI series and play in the Test series,” he said on Sunday.
Jalal Yunus, BCB's Cricket Operations Committee Chairman said Shakib called him to speak about his unavailability.
“Shakib called me and said he is very upset. He is not in a state to play. He is not able to give his 100%. If he plays in this condition, it will be equally bad for the team and the country. If he does not play the ODI series against South Africa, he might get his mojo back to play the Test series,” Jalal told the media.
