Ace all-arounder Shakib Al Hasan put an end to rumors by confirming that he will play in the final three games of the five-match T20 International series against Zimbabwe as well as the final two games of the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) Super League phase.
Shakib, who is regarded as the best player the nation has ever produced, admitted that he had discussed his participation in the upcoming series with the captain, head coach, and chief selector before deciding to play the final three games of the series.
To strengthen his preparations, he will play Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club in the final two DPL Super League games.
“I had already talked about the involvement in the Zimbabwe series with the coach, captain and the chief selection. The coach (Chandika Hathurusingha) told me that playing two matches in the Zimbabwe series will be enough,” Shakib said during an event in New York on Thursday.
“I even asked him (coach) if he wanted me to play all five matches but he told me that two matches would be enough. Then I talked to captain and the chief selector but they told me that it would be better if I play three matches. I said I have no problems with it and said yes.”
Talks are doing rounds in the social media that Shakib would play three matches of Zimbabwe series and even won’t play the DPL Super League, which seemed to have annoyed the star allrounder.
“The discussion in the social media is irrelevant. It’s not up to me that how many matches I will play. Such decision is always taken through discussion with the team management,” he said.
“There are two scheduled DPL matches before the last three T20 against Zimbabwe and so I will play those matches to have perfect preparations for the series,” he added.
Zimbabwe is scheduled to land on April 28. The Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram will host the first three games of the series. The final two games will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.
