Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will stay up for the IPL and won’t join his teammates for the preparatory camp ahead of the tri-nation series in Ireland. The all-rounder has decided to stay back in India to continue his tenure in the Indian Premier League with Sunrisers Hyderabad. Bangladesh Cricket Board operation chairman Akram Khan said that Shakib Al Hasan will stay back in India and continue participation in IPL.
As per reports, it is learnt that Shakib Al Hasan was supposed to join the Bangladesh team for their preparatory camp ahead of the 2019 World Cup slated to be played in England and Wales. Till now Shakib hasn’t found a permanent place in the SRH playing XI. However, with many foreigners slated to return back to their country to prepare for the World Cup, Shakib might get a chance in the business end of the tournament which has prompted him to stay back.
As per reports in Cricbuzz, BCB had earlier sent a letter to Shakib and informed him about the preparatory camp. He confirmed his participation at first but with foreign slots opening up, Shakib decided to stay back in India. He has also asked for the board’s permission after his decision.
Shakib Al Hasan recently recovered from a career-threatening finger injury which barred him from playing in the ODI series in New Zealand. BCB had earlier granted him a no objection certificate after he made himself available for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. David Warner, Kane Williamson, Jonny Bairstow and Rashid Khan have literally stopped the entry of any other foreign players.
However, with Jonny Bairstow slated to leave after tomorrow’s clash, Shakib is hopeful of getting a few matches towards the back end of the tournament.
“Shakib was expected to arrive on April 23 but now that is not happening,” Akram Khan said. “He has informed us that as someone had left from the Sunrisers [set-up] there is a chance that he might play and so he wanted to stay back.
“We have given him the permission as we believe if he can play it will always be good for him leading up to the tri-nation in Ireland,” Akram added.
Shakib Al Hasan is now expected to join his national team on the cusp of the tour of Ireland slated for 1st May. Meanwhile, bowling coach Courtney Walsh is also of the opinion that getting match practice in IPL will help Shakib in the 2019 World Cup.
“Well, he is in India with his IPL team and I think it’s good for him to be there to get some match practice if he can. I think that match fitness for him right now is the key. He was injured; he was practising for quite some time. Personally, I would like him to play a couple of games in the IPL to get a bit sharper for of the World Cup,” Walsh said.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh will be preparing for the tri-series against Ireland and Windies ahead of the World Cup which will serve as a warm-up series for the Caribbean for the 2019 World Cup. The tri-series starts on 5th May. However, Bangladesh will play their first match against Windies on 7th May.