BCB Checking Shakib Al Hasan’s Availability For ODI Captaincy In Asia Cup And ODI World Cup 2023
BANGLADESH Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan is currently checking Shakib al Hasan’s availability prior to selecting him as the replacement for Tamim Iqbal as the next ODI captain of the national side.
With just over two months left for the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup, veteran left-handed opener Tamim Iqbal has decided to step down as Bangladesh’s ODI captain and will miss the upcoming Asia Cup due to a back injury.
Tamim had earlier announced his retirement from international cricket on July 6 but reversed the decision following a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. His recent decision means that Bangladesh will have a new ODI captain ahead of the mega event happening in India from October 5 to November 19.
Though Tamim will be unavailable for the Asia Cup to be hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka from August 31 to September 17, he wishes to be fit for the ODI series against New Zealand at home starting from September 21 before the World Cup arrives.
BCB Want Shakib Al Hasan As ODI Skipper
Shakib al Hasan is currently the T20I and Test skipper of Bangladesh and has also led the team previously in the 50-over format of the game including the 2011 ODI World Cup.
BCB is banking on Shakib’s experience to lead the side in the upcoming major tournament. However, BCB officials insisted that they will appoint their next ODI skipper for two years which is the only hurdle in the decision.
“We have not discussed captaincy yet. We have to take a break and think about it. As I have said before, if it was one series, we could have gone with the vice-captain (Litton) but now we have to think long term,” Nazmul told reporters in Dhaka on Saturday (August 5).
“There are two problems. If we think about the long term it is one thing. But there is the World Cup as well and the pressure of the World Cup is not small. If I select a new guy and whether he can take this pressure – we need to consider that as well. If we choose someone on a long term basis and he is not available after one year, what will we do? So we need to discuss these things,” he said.
“Shakib is the obvious choice but can you say he will play for two years? We don’t know that and so we need to know his plan and talk with the board. I think the easiest choice is Shakib and there is no problem with it”
“Leading in the bilateral series and World Cup are two different things. And whether that influences his (Litton) batting or not, we need to see everything. We will take a decision without hurrying it up,” he added.
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