Shakib absent in optional session

When Shakib Al Hasan is immersed in cricket, he becomes one of the game's most admirable students, picking up cues on what he needs to work on very quickly. It is a key reason why he does not need a lot of practice time to begin with, but the Ireland series has given him a lot more leeway in terms of practice turning optional.

A day ahead of the third ODI, reporters' eyes, usually trained on Shakib, were searching out the Bangladesh all-rounder at the practice session. When team officials were contacted, they informed that the training before the third and final series-deciding ODI was an optional session.

12 of the 14-member squad had showed up and, even a day before, it had not been communicated as an optional session. Mushfiqur Rahim had a family emergency and missed the session but was due to return yesterday as well.

Asked yesterday, team manager Nafees Iqbal said: "It was an optional practice session today. Since it was optional, it depends on the player and whether they want to attend or not. Shakib will arrive today."

Shakib had flown in from Sylhet to Dhaka a number of times. He joined the side on Friday and, having played the first ODI, departed for Dhaka to attend his graduation convocation on Sunday. He returned the same day and played the second ODI on Monday but departed for Dhaka on Tuesday to attend a commercial event.

He was expected in the team by yesterday night, but such aggressive scheduling from Shakib appeared the least 'optional' this Ireland series.