Veteran Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan said that it’s “close to impossible” for him to play in all three formats from now on. He added that Test cricket will suffer the brunt of bio-bubble fatigue and he also needs time for his family too.
While speaking to TV channel NTV on Thursday, the veteran has said that he’s not sure if he will play Test cricket again. Shakib, meanwhile, defended his decision to not take part in Bangladesh’s two-Test tour of New Zealand, citing that giving 40-42 days for the series has made him more selective about games.
Shakib Al Hasan said: ”I know what [format] is important for me and I know what [format] should get the preference. Right now time has come when I am thinking about Test cricket and whether I will play Tests again or even if I play, how will I play. When you play two Tests in 40 to 42 days, it cannot be fruitful so certainly it encourages playing selective matches. I am not saying that I will retire from Test but it can happen that I am not playing T20s after the 2022 World Cup and at that point I might play one-day and Test. But continuing three formats together is almost close to impossible.”
Shakib further added that he will discuss his future plans with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) soon as well.
He said: ”I have to plan well about it with BCB and after doing that moving forward would be an intelligent move. So if I can plan by January I will know what is happening for the whole year.”
Shakib AL Hasan To Skip NZ Test Series
However, Shakib Al Hasan has been given a leave from the tour by the board stating “personal reasons”. He has last played a Test against Pakistan in Mirpur in early December, where Bangladesh lost the game by an innings and eight runs as well.
Shakib Al Hasan shared: “Remaining in quarantine is like staying in jail, but in jail at least you can talk with someone… Look New Zealand did not send their team to the Under-19 World Cup considering mental health. What I feel is that corona is not going away quickly and we have to live with it. So we have to find some other way. Probably quarantine or bio bubble is not the best solution.”
However, he plays in T20 leagues around the globe, has stated that he doesn’t want his family to go through the “unhealthy situation” due to the quarantine placed for the global pandemic novel COVID-19. Meanwhile, the first Bangladesh-New Zealand Test will begin on New Year’s at Bay Oval.
”When you have three small children and you cannot give time and suddenly you meet them for eight to 10 days and then again you are away for couple of months and again you meet for 15 days it’s a very unhealthy situation and I feel it will leave an impact on their growth. I don’t want them to go through it,” Shakib Al Hasan concluded.
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