Online Desk: Return to Dhaka of former Bangladesh captain Shakib and joining the team ahead of the upcoming tour of Pakistan has been a major topic of discussion in the cricket fraternity of the country.
The discussion was triggered after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government and amid the Awami League leaders going into hiding for personal safety.
Shakib, who was a member of the just dissolved parliament, has been away playing in Canada in the ongoing Global Twenty20 2024.
According to sources close to the Bangladesh Cricket Board cricket operations committee; there has been communication between the selection panel and Shakib where the latter has emphasized on joining the national team in Pakistan.
It is understood that Shakib is not willing to travel to Dhaka under the current political circumstances. Cricket operations committee manager Shahriar Nafees while speaking to the media last week had said the board will contact Shakib over his availability for the Pakistan tour.
Shakib’s No Objection Certificate issued by the BCB will expire on August 12, Monday. He was initially supposed to report at BCB on August 13.
The selection panel has already confirmed the Bangladesh squad for the Test series but is in a dilemma over approval.
Previously all national team squads were declared following approval of BCB president Nazmul Hasan. But the BCB boss, along with many other influential directors affiliated with the Sheikh Hasina government, has been on the run and missing for personal safety.
“The national team squad needs approval from the BCB president. Since he has been unavailable, the officials are still to decide on what to do. The national selection panel is expecting to announce the squad tomorrow [Sunday],” said a BCB official requesting anonymity to Dhaka Tribune Saturday.
On tour of Pakistan, Bangladesh are scheduled to play the first Test in Rawalpindi from August 21. The second Test will be played in Karachi from August 30.
Pakistan Cricket Board has already named a 17-man squad for the series.
