'Of course, of course' -Shakib granted leave for NZ tour

Star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been granted a leave for the upcoming New Zealand tour. Shakib earlier informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) verbally that he would not be available for the tour. But since he didn't give an official letter, the BCB included him in the squad for the New Zealand tour.

An hour after the announcement of the team, Shakib officially asked for a leave citing family reasons. Nazmul Hassan, the BCB president, on Monday, said that the board has granted him a leave for Bangladesh's tour to New Zealand scheduled to take place in January next year.

"Of course, of course," the BCB president said when he was finally asked if Shakib's leave was granted or not.

In addition, he said, "From January next year, the players have to inform us beforehand if they want to skip a series so that we can keep other players ready."

Shakib Al Hasan asked for a six-month break from Tests ahead of Bangladesh's away Test series against South Africa in 2017. Since that series, Shakib has missed 12 out of 22 Test matches Bangladesh have been part of. He was not part of the team the last time Bangladesh toured New Zealand as he took a paternity leave. Shakib did not take part in the Test series between Bangladesh and New Zealand in 2019 as well. 

Bangladesh are scheduled to travel to New Zealand on 09 December. They will face the hosts in a two-match Test series in January 2022 which will be a part of the 2021-2023 cycle of the ICC World Test Championship.

Bangladesh team upon reaching New Zealand will be in a seven-day long quarantine. Following the quarantine, the tourists will be allowed to take the nets and play two two-day practice games – one intra-squad and the second against a New Zealand XI.

The first Test of the series will commence on the first day year 2022 – January 1 – at Bay Oval in Tauranga. The second and the final Test of the series will be held at Hagley Oval in Christchurch from January 9.