BCB upholds Shakib Al Hasan’s NOC for IPL 2021

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) upheld Shakib Al Hasan’s No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). In the last few days, Shakib and BCB cricket operations chairman, Akram Khan, have been at loggerheads after the former chose to play in the IPL rather than the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka.

In the IPL, Shakib would be representing the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) after being picked for INR 3.2 crores in the auction back in February. The BCB even thought of reconsidering Shakib’s NOC for the tournament after the miscommunication between the board and the all-rounder.

Ismail Haider, the BCB Director, confirmed Shakib’s participation in the cash-rich league, starting on April 9. “NOC will remain as it is and he can go and take part in IPL,” the BCB Director said, reported by Cricbuzz.

If reports are to be believed, Shakib is set to leave Bangladesh on March 28 to join his KKR teammates. The Magura-born has to undergo a seven-day quarantine period before joining his mates. The NOC is only valid until May 18 and he is expected to return for the Sri Lanka ODIs.

Shakib Al Hasan opines on his choice of going for the IPL

Earlier, Shakib cleared his stance, saying that he picked the IPL over the Tests in order to prepare for the T20 World Cup in India. The veteran mentioned that he wanted to garner enough experience that he can share with his national teammates.

“Continuously people are talking about this Test. The people who are saying that I will no longer play the Test or don’t want to play the Test haven’t read my letter properly and that is it,” Shakib said.

“I did not mention anywhere in my letter that I do not want to play Tests. I mentioned in my letter that I want to play in the IPL to prepare myself properly for World Cup (T20 World Cup) but despite that Akram Bhai has repeatedly said that I do not want to play Tests,” he added.

“I heard that he said that I didn’t read his letter. Perhaps I misunderstood his letter. He wants to play Tests, from what he has said. In the next couple of days we will discuss about his NOC. If he has interest, he will play Tests in Sri Lanka,” Akram Khan had said earlier.