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Shakib granted rest from international cricket till April 30
Follow UsThe allrounder had informed the board that he is mentally and physically exhausted and was reluctant to travel to South Africa
Bangladesh's ace allrounder Shakib Al Hasan has been granted rest from all forms of international cricket till April 30, the Bangladesh Cricket Board announced on Wednesday (March 9). As a result, Shakib will miss the entire tour of South Africa.
"He called me and said that I am not physically and mentally fit to play and want to skip the South Africa series and we have decided to give him rest till April 30," Cricbuzz reported BCB cricket operation chairman Jalal Yunus as saying.
Shakib had informed the board that he is mentally and physically exhausted and was reluctant to travel to South Africa for three ODIs and two Tests. Earlier, it was expected that Shakib will skip the Test series in order to play in the Indian Premier League 2022, which is beginning on March 26. However, the 34-year old went unsold in the mega-auction in February.
Shakib had said that he felt like a "passenger" during the Afghanistan series. "If I get a break, if I get my interest back, I can play with more ease. I was like a passenger in the Afghanistan series, which is never desirable. I didn't enjoy the ODIs and T20Is. I don't think I should be in the South Africa tour with such a mentality. I want to meet everyone's expectations when I am playing."
BCB president Nazmul Hasan wasn't too pleased with Shakib and even questioned his commitment towards the national side. "I think it is logical to think that if he was in a poor physical and mental state, he wouldn't have given his name in the IPL auction. But he went ahead with it. So, does it mean that if he got his IPL contract, he would have said the same thing?
"We can't do anything if he doesn't want to play (for Bangladesh). But he can't keep saying I will play this game, I won't play that game. We are soft on those who we love, but they also have to be professional. Otherwise, we will have to take decisions that no one will like. If he not willing to play please tell us but it becomes difficult if he informs us at the last minute, then it becomes a problem."