Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib al Hasan will take part in the upcoming away series against South Africa, confirmed Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan to the media Saturday.
Shakib and BCB came face to face in the last couple of weeks regarding the former Bangladesh captain's availability for the South Africa series and after seeing many twist and turns, it seems he is now ready to tour South Africa for the three ODIs and two Test matches.
It is still unclear whether Shakib will play only ODIss or Tests or both the series, but BCB boss confirmed Shakib will fly to South Africa tonight and join the Tigers squad accordingly.
Here is a timeline of incidents of the Shakib and BCB faceoff, which was the talk of the country in last few days:
March 3: Bangladesh announces squads for South Africa tour
There was speculation on Shakib’s availability in the Test squad for South Africa series but eventually the left-hander was included for both the ODIs and Tests as BCB announced the squad son March 3.
Bangladesh last played a Test series against New Zealand away where they claimed a historic victory against the Kiwis in the first Test of the series.
Both Shakib and Tamim Iqbal were missing in that series as the former took a leave for personal reasons while the latter was injured at that time.
The ODIs will be played on March 18, 23 and 25.
The first Test will start from March 31 while the second Test will commence from April 8.
March 6: Shakib says he is not mentally fit for international cricket
Shakib went to Dubai for personal work a few days ago and before his departure, he informed to the media last Sunday that he is not mentally ready for international cricket and that he did not enjoy the recently concluded Afghanistan series at home.
“The state I am in mentally and physically, I don’t think I can play international cricket anymore. I think if I get a break and get the rhythm back, it will be easier for me. I felt like a passenger in the Afghanistan series which I never want to see in me,” said Shakib.
“I couldn’t enjoy the game to be honest – both the ODIs and the T20Is. I don’t think it will be wise for me to play the South Africa series with this mental state."
Since Shakib said he is not mentally and physically ready to play international cricket, there were discussions over whether he might quit Test cricket as well as he desired to take break from red-ball cricket quite a few times in the last few years.
March 7: BCB president reacts to Shakib’s comment
In an immediate reaction BCB chief Nazmul made an outburst to the media last Monday regarding Shakib’s wish to take a break from international cricket and questioned Shakib’s thinking and reasoning behind this sudden decision.
“This is not acceptable. How come he was interested to play in the IPL [Indian Premier League Twenty20] if he was not mentally fit. He should have said he won't play in IPL too if he is not doing well mentally. Would he have said he is not mentally well if he got picked by an IPL team? I absolutely do not understand this,” Nazmul said.
March 8: Tigers team director Mahmud reacts to Shakib comment
BCB director Khaled Mahmud criticized Shakib for his "unprofessional" behavior towards the Bangladesh cricket team.
Mahmud, who is also the national team director, said he doesn’t care if Shakib is playing or not in the upcoming tour of South Africa.
The reaction from former Bangladesh captain Mahmud came a day after the BCB president Nazmul lambasted Shakib through statements in media.
“We all knew that he [Shakib] will play the Tests and the ODIs [in South Africa]. He had initially given a letter saying he won’t play and that had changed after [not getting an IPL team] and speaking to the BCB president. Now he has changed his mind again,” said Mahmud at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium last Tuesday.
Mahmud emphasized on the trouble the national selection panel and the team management have to go through for sudden changes of mind – particularly from the senior cricketers – regarding their availability for the national team.
“It is of course a trouble [for the selection] when payers like Shakib-Tamim do not play. We have to prepare someone else to take their places. What happens to the player when say Shakib is back? This of course disrupts in having a continuity with the team selection. I don’t care if he [Shakib] doesn’t want to play Tests. BCB is also not concerned,” said Mahmud.
“It is time to put full-stop. Enough is enough. You [players] cannot run the board. A player cannot suddenly say he doesn’t want to play. They have to do the job properly and be clear if they do not want to play,” Mahmud concluded.
March 9: BCB grants Shakib leave from cricket until April 30
Later BCB granted him leave last Wednesday evening from all forms of cricket until April 30 this year.
“We had given Shakib two days to think on his decision. The two days completed [Wednesday] so I called him to ask for his decision. I asked for his plan. He said he still thinks he is still unfit mentally and physically and for which he doesn’t want to go to South Africa. He wants to skip this tour,” said BCB cricket operations committee chairman Jalal Younus to the media in Dhaka.
“Following to that we [the board] had an internal discussion including the president [Nazmul]. So, considering Shakib’s request we have granted him leave from all forms of cricket till April 30,” the BCB director added.
March 10: BCB includes Shakib in central contract for all three formats
Surprisingly Shakib was shown available for all three formats of cricket as the BCB last Thursday declared the name of 21 cricketers under the central contract for the term January to December 2022.
Speculation has been rife Shakib is not willing to play Test cricket anymore and thus missed out from majority of the matches for Bangladesh in past two years.
But the BCB declaration now hints at a change in scenario.
BCB in its last central contract had involved 24 cricketers.
March 10 Shakib returns to country from Dubai
Shakib came back to the country last Thursday night from Dubai after completing his personal work.
The national team on the other hand were departing to South Africa for the ODI and Test series on Friday.
March 12: Shakib holds meeting with BCB boss
After returning to the country, Shakib called BCB president to discuss the issue.
After the discussion held on Saturday afternoon BCB president, along with Shakib himself and other board directors, announced in a press conference that the all-rounder is going to South Africa and he will leave the country on Sunday night.
March 12: BCB president's statement
“Shakib is going to South Africa. Whether he will play only ODIs or Tests that is not sure but he is going,” said Nazmul.
"We have discussed the whole plan. We have to remember that the senior players go through tremendous pressure. We have to play 14 ODIs, 15 T20Is this year, and we have to play eight Tests as well. It’s tough for our senior players to play all these matches. It’s true. We have to understand it. I believe the players need some breaks. And keeping it in mind, I had said if a player does not want to play a format he should tell us. So that we can plan accordingly. If they tell us just before a series, it becomes tough to plan this way.
"Shakib wanted a leave a few days ago. After that, during the third ODI (against Afghanistan), he said he will play in South Africa. Now, while going to Dubai, Shakib told the media that he is not fit to play now. He called me from Dubai and told me that he would decide after coming back home. In the meantime, Shakib told Jalal bhai that he won’t go to South Africa.
"Now after coming back from United Arab Emirates, he is mentally disturbed. It happens in human life. Everyone has something that nobody wants. He is suffering from mental disturbance. However, he now told me that he wants to play in South Africa.
"Now, if one skips a series, we should take it sportingly. It’s also a part of the game. It happens around the globe. We have to support Shakib as he is suffering from mental fatigue. We should remember that Shakib, Tamim, Mashrafe (Bin Mortaza), Mushfiqur (Rahim), (Mahmudullah) Riyad did a lot for the country. So we have to stand by them."
March 12: Shakib’s statement
“As I am in the contract of all formats, I am available to play in all three formats. Board will decide in which series they will give me rest. But I am available for South Africa series,” Shakib said to the media after meeting the board president.
“Now I’m in a better situation (mentally). After going to South Africa, I may feel better. It happens sometimes when you go to a better environment you may feel good,” Shakib concluded.