Bangladesh’s all-rounder Sakib al Hasan and opener Tamim Iqbal said on Monday that they will be available for the inaugural edition of Pakistan Super League Twenty20 cricket tournament provided there is no objection from Bangladesh Cricket Board. The Pakistan Cricket Board has planned to hold the league from February 4-25 in Qatar with around 25 foreigncricketers including some of the biggest names of world cricket.
Pakistani media earlier reported that at least two Bangladeshis were approached for the league, though their identities were never disclosed.
Sakib and Tamin were thought to be the two Bangladeshis whom PCB is interested to sign up for their Twenty20 League, a tournament which they failed to launch with two previous attempts.
‘I will be available for the auction,’ Sakib told New Age on Monday.
‘If any team picks me and there is an opportunity to play without hampering my national duty, surely I will try to participate in the tournament,’ he said.
‘At the moment it’s too early to say whether I will play or not,’ he said.
Tamim, who provided Pakistan a nightmare in recent home series with two centuries in one-day internationals and a double century in Test, echoed the same words.
‘If the board [Bangladesh Cricket Board] gives me permission I don’t have any problem playing in PSL,’ said Tamim.
‘But on top of everything, we need to make sure that we are not neglecting our national responsibilities.
‘I will ask for the NOC if any possibilities arise and if there is no problem with my participation than I may play,’ he said.
Bangladesh Cricket Board officials said they are yet to receive any request from PCB to issue any player an NOC for the PSL.
If selected for the league, Sakib and Tamim, however, will be able to play
only few matches as Bangladesh are scheduled to play Zimbabwe in January-February.
According to proposed schedule, Zimbabwe will play two Tests, three one-day internationals and as many Twenty20 internationals from January 15 to February 16.
-With New Age input
