Follow UsStar allrounder Shakib al Hasan has urged the Bangladesh Cricket Board to grant him a break from international cricket so that he can recuperate physically and mentally, hinting at withdrawal from the tour of South Africa beginning from March 18.
Shakib has been named in Bangladesh's squads for the three ODIs from March 18-23 and the two match Test series from March 13 to April 12. BCB's cricket operations chairman Jalal Yunus earlier in the week, said he was confident Shakib will be part of the entire tour following a chat with the southpaw after the third ODI against Afghanistan.
"Considering my mental and physical state, I don't think I can play so much international cricket," Shakib said on Sunday, before leaving for Dubai for personal work.
"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. There's no guarantee of my best performance, but at least I will know that I tried hardest for the country. I don't want to waste the time or someone's spot. Playing in this way, as a passenger, it will be like betraying or cheating my team-mates and the country," he added.
Shakib said he had spoken to both Yunus and BCB president Nazmul Hassan about playing the tour but is having second thoughts given his situation.
"I have informed Jalal bhai who told me to think about it for a couple of days. I am expecting a decision after that. I had earlier spoken with Papon bhai that I will play both the series but I thought long and hard since the match yesterday. Looking at my mental and physical condition, I need a bit of time. I might skip the ODI series to play the Tests in a better physical condition," he said.
It was expected the 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 dismissed the speculation of him quitting Test cricket.
"I didn't want to leave Tests totally, but because we are finding a bit of balance in the Test side, I felt that if I focus on white-ball, considering my age and physical fitness, I could have done better in ODIs and T20Is. I think it is better if I know the long-term plan about me. There's no point thinking series-by-series," he said.