Shakib leaves for India to take part in IPL

Bangladesh ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan left Dhaka this morning to take part in the upcoming Indian Premier League, starting from April 9.

Shakib, who will be representing Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) after being picked for INR 3.2 crores in the auction back in February, has to undergo a seven-day quarantine period in Chennai before joining his teammates.

KKR will play their first match against Shakib's former team Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 11.

Meanwhile, couple of days ago Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) cricket operations committee chairman Akram Khan told reporters that the board may reconsider the No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for the all-rounder after Shakib had accused the BCB, and particularly Khan, of misinterpreting his letter to BCB seeking permission to skip Sri Lanka Tests in April in order to play in IPL.

Shakib returned home from the United States on Monday night and did some practice at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur the following day. The premier all-rounder also met the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday.

The ace all-rounder has been an integral part of KKR in the past as the franchise have clinched the IPL trophy twice, and Shakib was a part of the side in their 2012 as well as 2014 championship wins. Shakib, who missed playing in the last edition of IPL due to serving a ban, is all set to make his much-anticipated return in the cash-rich league.