Bangladesh Cricket Board Monday provided No Objection Certificate to all-rounder Shakib al Hasan and wicketkeeper-batsman Liton Das for the Global Twenty20 Canada League, scheduled to be held from July 20 to August 6.
BCB's cricket operations committee chairman Jalal Younus confirmed this to the media, saying the duo will be back well before the Asia Cup, slated to get underway on August 31.
“Shakib asked for NOC to play in Canada, so too did Liton. The board has given them clearance. They will be back in Dhaka by August 20 and join the national team. We would still have around 10 days left (for Asia Cup). There are no problems, they can play,” said Jalal.
This will be the first time in three editions that Bangladesh players would feature in the Canadian league.
Shakib is set to turn out for Montreal Tigers where he will be coached by former Bangladesh head coach Dav Whatmore.
Among Shakib's teammates will be his colleague from Bangladesh Premier League outfit Dhaka and Indian Premier League side Kolkata Knight Riders, Andre Russell, Australia batter Chris Lynn and the West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite.
Liton will feature for Surrey Jaguars who will be coached by former Afghanistan and Zimbabwe head coach Lalchand Rajput and have the likes of explosive England opener Alex Hales, Pakistan batsmen Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Haris and tall Australian fast bowler Jason Behrendorff in their roster.
In addition, Shakib will also play in the fourth edition of the Lanka Premier League which will run from July 31 to August 22.
Paceman Al Amin Hossain and batter Afif Hossain previously participated in Sri Lanka's premier T20 tournament from Bangladesh.
“Liton will be back earlier while Shakib said he would play LPL. He will return by August 20 or prior to that time. If we feel he should come back before that then he will, he took the clearance accordingly,” said Jalal.
“There will be no national team commitment at that time. The clearance was given after discussions with the head coach (Chandika Hathurusingha) and team management. No matter which format, we want them to play as much competitive cricket as possible before the World Cup.”
When asked about any possibility of potential injury given the busy schedule, the BCB director said, “They have no injuries, and it is the pacers who get injured more. Liton and Shakib are not injury-prone, maybe they incurred finger injury while playing, that is different. Since it is T20 format, a shorter format, we have given them the go-ahead.”