Shakib Al Hasan to miss New Zealand tour after BCB grants him leave

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has approved all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan’s leave and will miss the upcoming New Zealand tour. It was earlier reported that the left-hander doesn’t want to tour the Kiwi nation but despite that he was included in the Test squad. However, BCB President Nazmul Hassan had stated that the cricketer had not informed the board formally with a proper reason.

But on Monday (December 6), Nazmul confirmed that Shakib was granted the leave. But he insisted that the players should tell the board officially beforehand about the rest or leave they need.

“Certainly (his leave is granted) and what I wanted to say is that everyone should inform us regarding their availability beforehand considering that makes our job easier to prepare a replacement. Whoever needs rest or break will be given whether he is an important player or not but his case is different as he neither injured nor he asked for a break. He wanted leave for family commitment,” the BCB President said according to Cricbuzz.

BCB not to name any replacement for Shakib Al Hasan

Nazmul Hassan also stated that the board was not embarrassed in this episode at all while repeating that they only heard about Shakib’s leave informally. He also added that the players will have to inform the board about the leave prior officially from January 2022.

“We are not embarrassed about it considering we were informally informed so there is no kind of miscommunication but they must inform us officially so that we can choose our path of action. I have always said that rest or break will be given to everyone if they ask for it but the thing is that they have to inform us earlier because it gets complicated if we hear about it all of a sudden. From January onwards these things need to be informed to us beforehand,” he added.

Meanwhile, BCB has decided not to name any replacement for Shakib Al Hasan for New Zealand tour. It is a massive loss though for them as his experience would’ve been valuable. The two-match Test series between Bangladesh and New Zealand will commence on January 1 at the Bay Oval in Tauranga. The second and final Test will be played from January 9 in Christchurch.

Bangladesh Test squad for New Zealand tour: Mominul Haque (Captain), Shadman Islam, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Kumer Das, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Yasir Ali Rabbi, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Abu Jayed Chowdhury Rahi, Ebadot Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Shohidul Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Md Naim Sheikh