Shakib Al Hasan asked to skip New Zealand tests

DHAKA: Bangladesh's all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has tried to get his name off the squad for next month's test series in New Zealand, voters said on Sunday.

Bangladesh, which will face two Tests against New Zealand in January, previously added Shakib's name to the roster for the series. “He gave the CEO a letter asking him to leave. We still have to be informed whether or not his application has been approved, ”said Chief Selector Minhajul Abedin, referring to the Bangladesh Cricket Board.

Local media reported that Shakib's letter was asked to withdraw for "family reasons" without providing further details. The cricketer returned to the Bangladesh squad for the ongoing second Test against Pakistan in Dhaka after an injury forced him to suspend their previous match at Chittagong.

The President of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Najmul Hassan, has confirmed that they have accepted Shakib Al Hasan's "formal" request to skip the upcoming New Zealand tour. The all-rounder ace was originally added to the squad despite "unofficially" informing the BCB of his reluctance to leave the country.

Shakib Al Hasan, who is currently on the Bangladesh squad who play against Pakistan, previously skipped tours in 2021. He skipped the limited tour of New Zealand in March due to paternity leave before missing the two Tests against Sri Lanka in favor of IPL 2021.

He missed four of the seven Tests in Bangladesh this year - two due to injury and two due to previous engagements in the Indian Premier League. Bangladesh's team will leave home for New Zealand at the end of the Dhaka Tests. The first test against New Zealand will take place in Tauranga from January 1st to 5th. Christchurch will host the second test January 9-13.

Squad: Mominul Haque (Captain), Shadman Islam, Najmul Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Das, Nurul Hasan, Yasir Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Abu Jayed, Ebadot Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Shohidul Islam, Mahmudul Hasan, Mohammad Naim Sheikh.