Bangladesh vs Zimbabawe: Will Shakib Al Hasan Play Home T20 Series In May Or Not?

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Bangladesh cricket fans can breathe a sigh of relief as star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has put an end to speculations regarding his availability in the upcoming five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe.

Shakib confirmed his participation, revealing that discussions with team management led to the decision for him to play the last three matches of the series.

Speaking at an event in New York, Shakib disclosed insights from his conversations with key figures in the team. "I had discussions with the coach, captain, and selector. The coach mentioned that two matches would suffice, but the chief selector suggested it would be better for me to play three," he stated.

The veteran cricketer emphasized that such decisions are made through collaborative discussions, contrary to assumptions circulating on social media. "The discussions on social media regarding this are very inapposite because such decisions happen through discussions, not by my wishes," Shakib clarified.

His participation strategy involves playing two scheduled matches of the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League (DPL) before joining the national team for the Zimbabwe series. This approach aims to ramp up his preparations effectively.

Zimbabwe is scheduled to arrive on April 28 for the series, which will commence with the first three matches at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. The series will then shift to the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka for the final two games.

However, the absence of Shakib and fellow cricketer Mustafizur Rahman was notable during the announcement of the 17-member squad for the preparation camp ahead of the series. Shakib's commitments in the USA and Mustafizur's engagements with the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League led to their exclusion from the camp.

Chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain expressed optimism regarding Shakib's return, indicating his probable participation in a couple of Super League games of the ongoing DPL for Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Cricket Club.

The uncertainty surrounding injuries also looms over the squad, with Soumya Sarkar's fitness being closely monitored. Despite recovering from an injury sustained during the ODI series against Sri Lanka, Soumya's inclusion in the squad hinges on his fitness evaluation by the team's medical staff.

As preparations intensify, Bangladesh aims to finalize their squad for the T20 World Cup, with the ICC deadline approaching. The squad for the preparation camp includes promising talents alongside experienced campaigners, reflecting the team's commitment to build a formidable lineup for upcoming challenges.