Shakib, Liton in for Ireland Test

Shakib Al Hasan and Liton Das – the captain and vice-captain of the Bangladesh Test side – will have to wait for their Test match against Ireland to conclude to join their Indian Premier League team Kolkata Knight Riders as they were both picked for the only Test starting at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on April 4.

The duo had applied for a No-Objection Certificate to play in the IPL from the start as KKR played their first match on Saturday. However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board turned it down.

“When IPL asked us about their (Shakib & Liton) availability, we told them that. They were picked based on that, and we will release them based on that. We have not given them a NOC,” BCB President Nazmul Hassan told the media on Friday.

According to sources, BCB was reluctant to release the players because they are the captains of the side.

“We have been told by the board they are both available for the Test match. That’s why they have been included in the squad,” Bangladesh chief selector Minhajul Abedin said.

While Shakib and Liton have been picked for the Test side, left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman has already reached India to take part in the IPL for Delhi Capitals.

Apart from the issue with Shakib and Liton, there were little surprises to the Test side albeit several changes.

Tamim Iqbal, who missed the two-match Test series against India with a groin injury, is back. However, Zakir Hasan, who replaced Tamim in that series and hit a maiden ton, is now out with a finger injury which he suffered before the One-Day International series against Ireland.

Nurul Hasan Sohan has also been dropped from the India series, alongside Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Nasum Ahmed, and Rejaur Rahman Raja.

Shadman Islam, Shoriful Islam, and Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury has returned alongside Tamim.