Shakib now seeks NOC

It came as a surprise when news emerged that Bangladesh's injured star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, currently recuperating from an injury, had asked the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to play in the inaugural Emirates T20 league known as the 'UAE T20X' tournament.

The tournament is set to begin on December 19 and will last for 24 days.

"Shakib asked for an NOC to play in the T20 tournament but a decision is yet to be made in this regard. A decision will be taken in a day or two," BCB's media committee chairman Jalal Yunus told the media.

Sources close to the board however informed that the board is unlikely to provide the NOC to Shakib for the tournament.

The all-rounder had to return home midway through the Asia Cup as his injury in the little finger of his left hand flared up. He underwent a small surgery to get the pus out upon returning to Dhaka before leaving for Australia for treatment on October 5. He returned from Melbourne with the good news that the infection was under control. While in Australia he had said that it would take at least three months for him to start testing his finger with cricket again, and six months to undergo surgery, which he said would be required in all likelihood.

The reports from Australia suggested that Shakib will not be able to undergo surgery before roughly six months and until the infection subsides. In the meanwhile he would continue rehabilitation to mobilise the joint, known as soft tissue therapy.

BCB boss Nazmul Hassan told The Daily Star in a recent interview that Shakib playing the World Cup in England next summer was the top priority and that all cricket leading up to that -- including the Indian Premier League, the Bangladesh Premier League and the New Zealand tour -- were unimportant in comparison.