BCB chief selector wants Shakib to play DPL matches

Dhaka, 23 April-Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu, the chairman of the BCB selection panel wants ace all rounder Shakib Al Hasan to play some matches of the Super League phase of the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) ahead of the five-match T20 International series against Zimbabwe, starting on May 3.

Shakib, a player of Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club played DPL group phase matches after the Sri Lanka series and thereafter headed to USA to spend Eid holidays with his family. 

"We have already contacted Shakib Al Hasan. He will return to country at the end of this month," Lipu, also a former national captain said here today.

"He has the opportunity to play some matches of the Super League and then he will get into the supervision of the team management. There he will have the opportunity to train with some cricketing skills. But certainly we want him to play some matches at the fag end of the Super League."

But whether the star all rounder will play the Super League matches is in doubt, considering the fatigue due to long flight. Moreover, the shimmering heat that affected the country severely puts the players at risk of injury. 

However, Lipu believes Shakib can cope with the scorching heat if he plays DPL matches. 

"Every cricketer needs to come with a process. He will come from abroad and so he will be exhausted naturally but there is matter to cope with the heat. Then he will have to work with the team management to get back into the cricket as quicker as it is possible. We'll take care of these matters," he remarked.

The question of team bonding also arised as Shakib hasn't been with the team of late consistently. Lipu said before the T20 World Cup, Bangladesh will have many matches which will help the players to get together well.

"He (Shakib) knows how to gel with other players. That's not a problem at all. We'll play five T20s against Zimbabwe and then will play three more matches against the USA. So the players will have the opportunity to spend the time together."