"There is a series against Pakistan and I am planning till that point of time " - Shakib Al Hasan tight-lipped on India tour participation
Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has refused to commit one way or the other to playing beyond the Pakistan tour in August, leaving his participation in the India tour in doubt. Bangladesh is slated to play a two-match Test series in Pakistan, after which they will tour India for two Tests and three T20Is, starting September 19.
The 37-year-old is coming off a dismal showing in the recently concluded 2024 T20 World Cup. Shakib averaged only 18.50 with the willow and picked up three wickets in seven outings.
Speaking to the reporters before leaving the USA, Shakib was unsure of his plans beyond the Pakistan tour.
"I don't have many plans. There is international cricket and there is a series against Pakistan and I am planning till that point of time and not planning beyond that. Now I don't have time to plan for three four years and so planning for three to six months is better and later will think about my next plan and so till now I am planning till the Pakistan series," said Shakib.
"There are two T20 tournaments in front of me one is MLC and the other one is the Global T20 League in Canada and let me see where I stand after playing these two tournaments because I need to understand [how I feel]," he added.
Shakib's mediocre showing meant Bangladesh finished at the bottom of their group in the 2024 T20 World Cup Super Eights, losing all three games.
However, they overcame the Sri Lankan, Netherlands, and Nepal threats to finish second in the initial group stage and advance to the Super Eight.
"Taskin apologized to the team for that afterwards and everyone in the team took it normally" - Shakib Al Hasan
Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed made headlines when a Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) official confirmed that he missed the India clash in the 2024 T20 World Cup due to missing the team bus.
Shakib Al Hasan has revealed that the speedster apologized to the team for the same and that they accepted it wholeheartedly.
"Taskin apologized to the team for that afterwards and everyone in the team took it normally because a man can mistake and anyone can commit unintentional mistake and he accepted it and the thing ended at that point of time. The team bus starts at a certain point and there is a rule for cricketers that team bus does not stop for anyone and if anyone misses it in that case he comes in the next car," Shakib told reporters.
"The manager's car or a taxi is there and the support of transport was difficult in the West Indies. When Taskin arrived it was five to 10 minutes before the toss and certainly it was difficult to pick him at that point in the team and it was difficult for him as well," he added.
In Taskin's absence, the Bangladesh bowling was blown away as India scored a massive 196/5 in 20 overs.
Despite putting up a fight, the Bangla Tigers finished 146/8 in reply to suffer a 50-run defeat.