Shakib available for last three matches of Zimbabwe T20I series

Bangladesh's premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan said he would play the last three matches of the team's five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, starting on 3 May.

After the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced the squad for the series against Zimbabwe, chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain said Shakib would play in the Super League of the ongoing Dhaka Premier League (DPL), a 50-over competition, upon his return to the country at the end of the month.

Ashraf's statement led to a confusion and many wondered whether Shakib would take part in the T20I series. On Thursday, the cricketer himself ended the speculations. 

"Of course, I will play in the Zimbabwe series. Probably there is a confusion in the country [regarding my availability]. It's been written on social media that I would play the DPL instead of the Zimbabwe series. But the fact is that I had spoken to the coach and captain beforehand. The coach said it was okay if I played two matches. Then I spoke to the selectors and the captain, they said it'd be better to play three matches," Shakib said at a function in New York on Thursday. 

Shakib stated he would play a couple of DPL Super League matches for Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club before returning to international cricket. 

"All these happen on the basis of discussion [with the management]. There are two Super League matches before the final three T20Is against Zimbabwe. That will help me prepare for the series as well," he added.