IPL 2021: Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman likely to miss the remaining season

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has finally managed to find a suitable window for hosting the remaining matches of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). It is learned that the Indian board can conduct the tournament from September 19 to October 10 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), just before the ICC T20 World Cup.

Notably, the T20 extravaganza was suspended for an indefinite time on May 4 after hosting just 29 games as some players and support staff members returned positive Covid-19 results. However, some franchises can miss their key players in the remaining of the tournament.

All the national cricket teams have a jam-packed international calendar and many cricket boards are unlikely to meddle with their schedule to make space for IPL 2021. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has already hinted towards the non-participation of the English players in the UAE leg of IPL 2021. England is supposed to tour Bangladesh and Pakistan for a limited-over series after hosting India for a five-match Test tour.

Now, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has also made it clear that they won’t be providing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the Bangladesh players to participate in the IPL. Notably, two Bangladeshi players including the likes of Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman have IPL contracts with Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals respectively. 

Shakib Al Hasan won’t be getting NOC for IPL 2021: BCB President

Both Rahman and Shakib played in the first half of IPL 2021 as BCB provided them with a NOC till May 18. This was done to ensure that both the players are back at home in time for the three-match One Day series against Sri Lanka. In September, Bangladesh is scheduled to host England in Dhaka for three One Day Internationals followed by as many T20 Internationals. 

Speaking about the remaining IPL 2021, Bangladesh Cricket Board President Nazmul Hassan stated as quoted by bdcrictime, “Shakib has no chance of playing the remaining IPL matches because England will be touring Bangladesh for a series at that time. He won’t be getting NOC.”