BCB sends clear message
There were murmurs around the country's cricket fraternity that Bangladesh's Test and T20I skipper Shakib Al Hasan would skip the upcoming one-off Test against Ireland, starting in Mirpur from Tuesday, to make himself available from the beginning of the Indian Premier League, where he is set to represent Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
But all that speculation was put to rest after the selectors announced the squad for the Test yesterday, including Shakib, thereby backing up the words from Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan Papon, who had maintained the stance that the all-rounder would not be allowed to skip the lone Test against Ireland. Liton Das, who was also drafted by KKR for the ongoing IPL, was also named in the squad.
The clear message from the board seems to be that national commitments come ahead of anything else and is a welcome reversal of instances in the past when the BCB chose to be lenient and allowed Shakib to skip national commitments to take part in the IPL.
In 2021, Shakib opted to sit out of a tour of Sri Lanka to play in the IPL after being granted permission by the BCB.
"He [Shakib] sent us a letter seeking permission to sit out the Sri Lanka tour because he wanted to play in the IPL. We gave him permission. If someone doesn't want to play, it doesn't make sense to force them," BCB's then cricket operations committee chairman Akram Khan told the media.
But the BCB's stance seems to change over the past couple of years, especially after Chandika Hathurusingha was reappointed head coach since the Sri Lankan's main priority was to create a healthy dressing room atmosphere.
Many thought that the BCB would allow Shakib to join KKR right from the start of the tournament since the Tigers will be playing against a relatively weak opponent at home, but both Hathurusingha and the BCB stuck to their guns.
"There is no doubt that it will definitely help their skills if they play in the IPL since it's a high-class tournament. But their first priority is to play for the country. I think Mustafizur Rahman will also play in the [IPL], so a total of three players," Hathurusingha had told the media ahead of the T20I series against Ireland.
Another reason for not allowing Shakib to skip the national commitment could be the fact that the Tigers will be playing their first Test this year. Regardless of opposition, Bangladesh's performances in the longest format of the game have remained a big area of concern.
However, Shakib clarified what his deal with the BCB was, saying yesterday: "When the BCCI wanted to know which time I would be available for, the BCB informed that we would not be get an NOC during any international commitments. And that is how we are getting the NOC. Mustafizur wouldn't get it either but, fortunately or unfortunately, he isn't in the Test side."
Despite a historic Test win against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui to begin 2022, Bangladesh were unable to win any of their next nine Tests that year.
The Tigers have recently adopted a fearless approach and the intention behind forming a full-strength squad for the Test against Ireland is to take that positive approach forward. As the captain of the Test side, Shakib's presence definitely matters when it comes to showing others the way.
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