Shakib granted permission to skip NZ series

Ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been granted leave to stay beside his family during the birth of his third child and will skip the upcoming tour of New Zealand, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) cricket operations chairman Akram Khan told the media today.

"He had asked the board for leave. We will have him back with us after the New Zealand series. We discussed the matter with the board president and granted him leave," Akram said.

Shakib will miss the three-match ODI and three-match T20I series in New Zealand. The Tigers will play the last T20I on April 1 before returning home.

According to BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury yesterday, the board will be looking to play against Sri Lanka in April. "There is a time slot in April when Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are both available. So we are trying to fit in the two or three Tests of the Test championship in that slot," Nizamuddin had informed yesterday.

Ahead of the start of the series on March 20, the Tigers will also hold a training camp.

Shakib is also recovering from a thigh injury sustained on the second day of the first Test. He had been ruled out of the second Test and Soumya Sarkar was brought in as his replacement in the squad for the second Test.