Bangladesh cricketers Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman will be unavailable for the second half of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Incidentally, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had to postpone the tournament midway amid the COVID19 crisis in the country.
After a lot of speculation, BCCI on May 29 (Saturday) announced that the remaining 31 matches of IPL 2021 will take place in the UAE. It is a tested territory for the BCCI having hosted the league entirely last season completely in the bubble.
Ever since BCCI’s announcement, several cricketers have expressed their unavailability for the 2nd half of IPL. After England and Wales Cricket Board’s director Ashley Giles confirmed that they won’t leave their cricketers, Australian speedster Pat Cummins has also confirmed his unavailability.
Shakib Al Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman to miss IPL 2021
And now, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Nazmul Hasan has confirmed that Shakib Al Hasan won’t be available when IPL 2021 resumes. England is supposed to tour Bangladesh and Pakistan for a limited-over series after hosting India for a five-match Test tour.
Notably, two Bangladeshi players including the likes of Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman have IPL contracts with Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals respectively.
“Shakib has no chance of playing the remaining IPL matches because England will be touring Bangladesh for a series at that time. He won’t be getting NOC,” Nazmul said to bdcrictime.
Bangladesh Cricket Team will also host Australia and New Zealand in a five-match T20I series each making it their busiest home season ever.
Previously, BCB had granted NOC to Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman until May 18 so that they can join the side for the ODIs against Sri Lanka. Bangladesh will want them to spend more time with the national side with the T20 World Cup to follow later this year.