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Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan's Availability For Sri Lanka Series Doubtful

image-ls6ywyu8Shakib Al Hasan [X.com]

Shakib Al Hasan stands undecided on his participation and availability for the forthcoming all-format home series against Sri Lanka. Owing to the persistent eye and vision troubles faced by the premier Bangladesh allrounder, he has yet not determined whether he will be involved in 3 T20Is, 3 ODIs and 2 Tests from March 4 to April 4. 

Shakib, who had taken a break from Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) duties earlier on to get his eyes checked in Singapore, had returned for the Sylhet leg for the Rangpur Riders but has limited his participation as a bowler alone, refusing to come out and bat in two games. 



As he spoke to the reporters after Riders' massive win over the Sylhet Strikers on Saturday (February 3), Shakib said "time will tell" if he considers himself ripe to face off against the Lankan Lions, having sustained the eye trouble since the ICC World Cup 2023 in October-November. 

Shakib To Discuss Captaincy Future With BCB 

The veteran player also said he will be discussing his captaincy future with the BCB officials ahead of the Lanka series. The cricketer had indicated he doesn't want to be retained as skipper after Bangladesh's disappointing World Cup campaign. 



"We are still playing the tournament. I will speak to the officials, and then take the decision (about playing the Sri Lanka or not)," Shakib said. "I will take a decision in this regard (ODI captaincy) after talking with the board but we still have not discussed it."

Shakib said he regrets that his availability to Riders is limited to his disciplined left-arm spin bowling but the player also recognises he would only feel confident of his vision facing the ball as he bats more in the middle. 

"The more I score runs, the more comfortable I will be. I can't find the rhythm when there are no runs. I have never done this in my life (like) just playing with one side. It is the first time and I feel for Rangpur Riders. I am only able to fulfill half of their expectations."

"I realized that when the time is bad, everything goes bad. I am not thinking about anything else (like quitting cricket) and now I am trying (to make a comeback) and let me finish my effort and later will think about it," he added. 

Bangladesh will be hosting Sri Lanka in two World Test Championship (WTC) matches and a pair of three-match white-ball series for T20Is and ODIs in Sylhet and Chattogram.