Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has hinted about taking a sabbatical from international cricket because of physical and psychological unreadiness.
The all-rounder left for Dubai on Sunday night. Before getting inside the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka, the all-rounder told the media that he is mentally and physically not in a state to play cricket.
Shakib was not in his best shape during the recently concluded One-Day International and Twenty20 International series against Afghanistan.
He scored 60 runs from three ODI matches and picked five wickets. In the two-match T20I series, he scored nine and five respectively while his bowling figures were 2-18 and 0-32.
Shakib told the media that he felt like a "passenger" throughout the series.
"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. Because throughout the Afghanistan series, I felt like I was a passenger that I never wanted to be," said Shakib.
"I never really enjoyed playing in the Afghanistan series — neither the ODI nor the T20I. I tried but it did not happen. I don't think it will be the right decision to play against South Africa with the current frame of mind."
Shakib has been included in both ODI and Test teams of Bangladesh to play against South Africa later this month.
The ODI series is part of ICC ODI Super League and the Test series is part of ICC World Test Championship.
At the airport, Shakib claimed that Cricket Operations Committee Chairman Jalal Yunus has been informed about his recent change of mind.
"I have talked to Jalal (Yunus) bhai about it. He told me to take two days to think. Jalal bhai also said that he will also give it a thought in the next two days.
"If I play with my current state of mind and body, it will be like cheating my teammates. I can't meet my expectations which are very frustrating," he said, adding that his presence will only hurt the team.
Earlier, Shakib wanted to take a break from the Test series against South Africa to play in the Indian Premier League, but he was snubbed by the franchises and remained unsold in the auction.
During the conversation with the reporters at the HSIA, Shakib said that he gave a letter to the Bangladesh Cricket Board stating that he does not want to play Test cricket till the end of the ICC T20 World Cup, rather he wants to concentrate on the limited-overs format.
"My leave from Test matches was not for six months. I clearly mentioned that till the end of ICC T20 World Cup which probably will be over by the end of November. During this period, I will not take part in any Test match. I wanted to concentrate on white-ball cricket. That does not mean I am quitting Test cricket. I just wanted to focus more on white-ball because in this year and coming year there are two World Cups and I believe we can do something better in those tournaments," said Shakib.
"For me, it's very important to know what's coming up in the next six months or in a year. I thought that the Test team has been coming into shape and considering my age, form, and physical fitness, it's hard for me to plan series by series.
"If I can know about the schedule of the entire year, it will be easier for me to plan accordingly. For my family-oriented plans, for my personal work plan...for everything it could be much easier if I can know beforehand," he said.
"I am not in a situation to play cricket. This is very important. When I come back to a favourable situation, I will play cricket again. It will depend on the discussion between me and the BCB. I might play the ODI series as 15-20 days’ break might work for me. It's tough to tell. It's difficult for me what's coming after two months (Sri Lanka series), but at the present condition, if I play I think I will deprive my teammates," Shakib added.
