Shakib Al Hasan to skip Sri Lanka Tests to play IPL

 Shakib Al Hasan

NDTV: Shakib Al Hasan will skip the forthcoming two-Test series versus Sri Lanka in April in order to make himself available for the entirety of the IPL 2021 season, Bangladesh Cricket Board’s Cricket Operation Chairman Akram Khan has said, adding that the board has granted him the leave.

The star all-rounder is expected to be available in the three-match ODI series that precedes the Test, subject to proving his fitness.

Shakib returned to the IPL after a one-year ban with Kolkata Knight Riders signing him for INR 3.2 crores at the auction. Shakib has previously played for the Knight Riders between 2011 and 2017, and was an integral member of their championship winning sides of 2012 and 2014.

“He (Shakib) had recently given us a letter [asking] to skip the Test series against Sri Lanka as he wanted to take part in the IPL,” Akram said. “We have given him the permission as there is no point pushing someone who is not interested to play (Test for national team),” he said.

BCB is looking to play the postponed tour of Sri Lanka in April after multiple efforts to conduct the series fell through in the pandemic-struck 2020.