Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan听is set听to听make a听return to the ongoing Dhaka Premier League to prepare ahead of the home series against Zimbabwe and the forthcoming ICC Twenty20 World Cup in West Indies and USA beginning on June 1.
Shakib, who featured in three matches in the initial phase of the tournament for Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, made himself unavailable for the remainder of the听tournament听to be with his family in USA.
Following his departure, several reports suggested听that he听wouldn鈥檛听be available in the Super League stage of DPL 2024, which commenced on April 22, with Sk Jamal taking on Mohammedan Sporting Club at Fatullah.
However, Bangladesh national team chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain on Tuesday said that Shakib could take part in the final days of this听year鈥檚听DPL to prepare for the five-match Zimbabwe series, for which a 17-member preliminary squad 鈥� without Shakib and Mustafizur Rahman 鈥� was released on the same day.
鈥榃e have communicated with Shakib. The outcome of the communication is that he will arrive later this month. Upon his coming back, there is a possibility to take part in a couple of matches,鈥櫶齮he chief selector said.
鈥楢fter that, he will join the team. We definitely want him to play in the latter part of the series [Zimbabwe],听since we have five matches there.鈥�
Gazi Ashraf added that they will include Shakib in the final squad听along with听Mustafiz following a three-day training camp at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on April 26, 27, and 28.
Other than Shakib, Mustafiz was also excluded from the primary squad听considering听his Indian Premier League commitment to the Chennai Super Kings, which will conclude on May 1.
The听Tigers鈥禾齝hief selector also said that as the left-arm pacer was听coming back听from a hectic franchise competition, he would听go through听a medical screening upon his return, which听wouldn鈥檛听allow him to play in the first game of the series.
鈥業听guess he听won鈥檛听be available in the first game. He will undergo a screening by our medical team upon his arrival. Then听we听would try to understand. I believe he听wouldn鈥檛听be available in the first game,鈥櫶鼼azi Ashraf said.
Bangladesh also included a half-fit Soumya Sarkar in the squad despite him still undergoing rehabilitation from his shoulder injury, which he suffered during the ODI series against Sri Lanka in the past month.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz听was overlooked, and with Gazi Ashraf suggesting that this primary squad is likely to serve as the pool to pick from for the T20 World Cup, it is unlikely that the off-spinner will be travelling for that tournament, although听the chief selector suggested that the door might open with injuries or other concerns.
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Primary Squad
Najmul Hossain Shanto, Liton Das, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanvir Islam, Afif Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Mohammad Saifuddin, Soumya Sarkar.