Ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has opted to play IPL over Sri Lanka test series in April and the Bangladesh Cricket Board has granted him permission to skip the tour following his request of leave.
BCB cricket operations chairman Akram Khan confirmed the news to media on Friday morning.
"He [Shakib] sent us a letter to ask for permission to sit out the Sri Lanka tour as he wants to play in the IPL. We have given him permission. If someone doesn't want to play so it doesn't make sense to make them play forcefully," Akram said.
The issue has sparked controversy all over the country.
Earlier on Thursday, Shakib Al Hasan was picked by his old franchise Kolkata Knight Riders for 32,000,000 rupees (37,396,641 Bangladeshi taka) following a bidding war with Panjab Kings for the Indian Premier League's (IPL) upcoming season.
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