All-rounder Shakib al Hasan’s extended leave from all forms of the game granted by the Bangladesh Cricket Board has put Dhaka Premier Division cricket League side Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited in jeopardy.
The Motijheel-based club had retained Shakib for the upcoming season of Dhaka League, scheduled to start Tuesday, with expectation that the cricketer will be available for some part of the tournament.
MSC’s plan however, has now been jeopardized after BCB Wednesday granted Shakib a leave till April 30.
The decision from the board came after Shakib requested a break from international cricket, and the upcoming tour of South Africa, which will end on April 15.
The former Bangladesh captain said he is not fit mentally and physically to play international cricket.
The BCB accepted his request by granting him an extended leave.
Mohammedan club officials though in prompt reaction had said they would speak to the board regarding the matter.
According to Mohammed cricket committee chairman Masuduzzaman, the club would first sit with Shakib once he returns to Dhaka to understand what the star cricketer is thinking.
“We had an internal discussion [in the club]. The decision is we will speak to Shakib once he comes back [from Dubai]. We will think of the way forward after that. We first need to know if he wants to play or is fit to play or not. We can then speak to the board. There is no need to speak to the board if Shakib doesn’t want to play,” said Masuduzzaman to the media Thursday.
BCB showed its support to Shakib by granting the leave.
The stance from the board has come after the cricketer revealed he is not fit mentally and physically to play international cricket.
It is however understood that Shakib’s intention just a week ahead of tour of South Africa did not go down well with the board.
Decision makers in the board are also upset with Shakib often skipping international duties despite being part of the central contract in all three formats of the game.
Many in the fraternity believe the board’s decision to grant Shakib leave till April 30 and not April 15 has come as repercussion.
It has been learnt that the board thinks if Shakib is allowed to rest skipping national duty, he should refrain from playing domestic cricket too.
