Shakib to play SA Tests: Hassan

Premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will play the two-match Test series against South Africa, scheduled in March-April, informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan. The BCB president confirmed it to the media following Bangladesh’s third ODI against Afghanistan in Chattogram today.
“As he is not playing in the IPL [this season] anymore, then I do not see any reason as to why he would not play Tests in South Africa. Shakib was available for the ODI series [against South Africa] anyway. And, now, as he will not be playing in IPL, he will definitely play the Test series as well,” said Hassan regarding the Shakib issue.
Earlier, it was confirmed by the BCB that Shakib is set to skip the upcoming two-match Test series in South Africa as the cricketer has kept himself available for the first half of the Indian Premier League (IPL). But the all-rounder went unsold in the IPL auction earlier this month.
Shakib, however, was set to take part in the three-match ODI series in South Africa which is scheduled to take place before the Test series. The ODI series, part of the ICC World Cup Super League, is scheduled to be held between March 18 to 23.
Earlier today, the BCB president also mentioned that Shakib had initially requested a six-month leave from Test cricket and that the board would set a meeting with him in order to determine if he would play Tests in South Africa.
However, in the latest press briefing, Hassan said that he had a chat with Shakib after their game against Afghanistan today and that the all-rounder has confirmed playing the upcoming South Africa series.
Shakib had given BCB a letter, requesting a six-month leave from Test cricket. After that when I talked to him, I learned that he would not be available for the two Test series [against Sri Lanka and South Africa] due to IPL. And then I had said to him that he must play against Sri Lanka and he obliged. So the [two-Test] series
against Sri Lanka [in May] was never an issue.
“As I can’t go near the players during a series due to Covid protocols, I had a little chat with him today after the game [against Afghanistan] from afar. I told him that I will sit with you once you return playing the Test series in South Africa. And he said that he will do whatever I say,” added Hassan.
The Test series away to South Africa will also be a part of the ICC World Test Championship with the first Test starting from March 31 and the second beginning on April 8.