BCB president Faruque Ahmed announced that Shakib Al Hasan is unlikely to play in the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in Sharjah. He mentioned that it was Shakib’s decision to skip the ODIs, partly due to the disappointment of missing his farewell Test in Dhaka against South Africa on October 21.
Shakib hasn’t played any cricket in almost a month since the second Test in India. He is expected to participate in the Abu Dhabi T10 League with Bangla Tigers to gain some playing time before the Caribbean tour.
Following the ODIs against Afghanistan, Bangladesh will travel to the West Indies for two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is. Since Shakib has retired from Tests and T20Is, he will be available for the ODIs in the Caribbean and the Champions Trophy in February 2025. He has not played ODIs since the World Cup in India last year.
“Since Shakib missed his farewell Test, he hasn’t practiced much,” Faruque said at a press conference. “He needs time to regroup. While we haven’t made a final decision, it seems he will likely miss the Afghanistan series. He might play in the T10 tournament soon. I believe he can still contribute to Bangladesh in ODIs, especially with three matches against the West Indies before the Champions Trophy.”
Faruque added that the board will consider Shakib for upcoming ODIs if the selectors believe his training and participation in franchise cricket are enough preparation. “Shakib has been playing for 17 years and understands the demands of franchise cricket. He knows how to balance play and training,” he explained.
The national selectors have not yet announced the squad for the ODIs against Afghanistan, starting on November 6. Faruque will also meet with Najmul Hossain Shanto, who has expressed hesitance about leading the team.
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Additionally, Faruque clarified that the government made the decision for Shakib to miss the Dhaka Test, and the BCB was not involved. “The BCB wasn’t part of the decision regarding Shakib’s absence,” he stated. “Our sports adviser informed the media that there were security concerns about his arrival. I heard there were clashes after 3 or 4 PM.”
