Shakib likely to play South Africa Tests

Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan was positive that Shakib Al Hasan will be available to play the two-match Test series against South Africa starting next month.

Hassan felt that Shakib, who went unsold in the IPL 2022 auction, will decide to stay back for the Test series after the three ODIs from March 18-23.

"Shakib gave us a letter saying that he wants a six-month break from Tests," he said a media conference on Monday. 

"When we asked him, he said that he will miss Tests against South Africa and Sri Lanka because of the IPL. I replied that you have to play against Sri Lanka, to which he agreed. Now that he is not going to the IPL, I don't see any reason why he shouldn't play the Test series in South Africa. So forget about it. This is no longer in my mind. The IPL was preventing him from playing, but now he will play," he added.

Hasan said he had a conversation with the allrounder after the third ODI against Afghanistan in Chattogram.

"Listen, we spoke from a distance after the match today. I can't go near him. I told him, I will speak to you after you come back from South Africa. He smiled and said, 'As you say.' As far as I am concerned, he will play. He never said he won't play. He only mentioned the IPL, so there's no point talking about it," he said.

Shakib had earlier opted out of New Zealand Test series this year.