Disappointed Mohammedan to appeal on Shakib’s break

Mohammedan Sporting Club (MSC) officials were left very disappointed by Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) decision to hand Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan a leave from all cricket till April 30 as it would see Shakib out of the upcoming Dhaka Premier League, slated to begin form March 15. Shakib had sought a break from international cricket and the BCB obliged today by resting him for the whole tour of South Africa but being rested till April 30 will have implications for Mohammedan. The Club will sit down for a meeting tomorrow and aim to appeal to BCB so that Shakib is available for the Dhaka Premier League (DPL).

Mohammedan had built their team with Shakib as the focal point for the upcoming season and roped in cricketers such as Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Soumya Sarkar and Mehedi Hasan Miraz. Shakib, who had captained the side last season, was key to their plans.

"The decision that the board gave is very disappointing for us since Shakib did not once mention that he had any problems playing domestic cricket. His problem was with playing in South Africa. I don't know why the date was extended so that it continued even after the South Africa series," Masud Uz Zaman, cricket committee chairman of Mohammedan SC, told The Daily Star today.

"We wait for this Premier League for one year. Experienced players and star names come here to play and they get an opportunity to play together. We have sponsors and how do we deal with them [after Shakib's unavailability].

"We are sitting tomorrow with the cricket committee and we will try to make an appeal [regarding Shakib]. We don't know what will happen but we will try. If we do make an appeal, it has to be tomorrow," he further informed.