BCB has given the schedule of the national team at the time of sending the names of cricketers in IPL. It includes a March-April home series against Ireland and an away series in May. BCB may not clear Shakib Al Hasan and Liton Kumar Das till the end of the ongoing home series. Mustafizur Rahman does not have that problem as he is not in a Test contract. However, Shakib may be released after the T20 series. Shakib has also had such talks with BCB president Nazmul Hasan Papon. A formal decision is yet to be announced. BCB wants to retain vice-captain Liton Kumar Das to lead the Test against Ireland if Shakib is given the NOC earlier. Although three cricketers Shakib, Liton, Mustafiz have applied for NOC to play since the beginning of IPL. BCB president Nazmul Hasan Papon will take the final decision after returning from Dubai after the ICC meeting.
The three-match ODI series against Ireland will end on March 23. A three-match T20 series will be held in Chittagong on March 27, 29 and 31. Shakib is the T20 captain again. The left-handed all-rounder wants to catch the flight to Kolkata after completing the series of 20-over matches. Because, on this day, IPL will start with the match of Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings. Shakib’s team Kolkata Knight Riders match against Punjab Kings in Mohali the next day. Both Shakib and Liton are once again Kolkata Knight Riders players. Even if one goes, at least the quota is filled. Shakib is more likely to go as a senior. Regardless of Shakib-Litton’s status, he will not be available for KKR’s opening two matches to lead the Test. KKR will play the second match on April 6 against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Eden Gardens. However, it depends on the head coach Chandika Hathurusingha to give clearance to Shakib, Liton from the beginning of IPL. BCB president will also respond as he wants. It is no surprise that the coach agreed to give clearance to the Shakib-Litton duo. Because the Test match against Ireland is not part of the World Test Championship. From that point of view, you will get a chance to see two young cricketers in place of Shakib and Liton. But the problem lies elsewhere. There is no leading cricketer in the team at the moment. That is why a member of the national team selection committee said, ‘Tamim Iqbal will not captain the Test. Others who remain, do not have the same leadership experience. So Shakib, anyone from Liton has to stay.’
The three cricketers who got a chance in the IPL will not be able to play full-time despite getting clearance from the start of the league due to the Bangladesh team’s Ireland series in England in May. In that case, the Tigers will have to leave for England on April 28. However, coach Chandika wants to start the series on May 3 by practicing for three days. The Ireland Cricket Board is being contacted in that way by the Cricket Management Department. The tour consists of three ODIs and four T20Is. The one-day cricket series is a match of the World Cup Super League. Captain Tamim Iqbal has asked BCB for the best squad for this series. Therefore, when asked about giving no-objection letters to the three cricketers, Jalal Yunus, chairman of the BCB cricket management department, said, ‘We have received an application from the cricketers. When the board president returns to the country, there is a matter to be discussed and decided.’ One thing is clear from this – BCB boss and head coach will have Ireland tour in mind in giving no objection to Shakib.
