BCB's position on Shakib's playing: Farooq

Shakib Al Hasan has been in a state of exile from international cricket since the India series. He was supposed to play in the South Africa series, but he did not return home due to security issues as he was a member of parliament in the fallen Awami League government. Shakib, who was unable to play the farewell Test, then withdrew from international cricket. He was not in the Afghanistan and West Indies series. In the meantime, his bowling was banned due to illegal actions. Even then, the BCB will try to get Shakib in the upcoming Champions Trophy. This was stated by BCB President Farooq Ahmed.

During the BPL match on Friday, Farooq Ahmed came to the press box of the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. He told reporters there.

He said, 'What I said earlier about Shakib, I actually said it on the instructions of the ministry. We announced what the ministry said here. Our sports advisor said that Shakib will play, the government will look into his problem. Then when it was finally revealed that it was a security threat, it was stopped. The Champions Trophy is outside the country...it has to be decided by the selectors during the BPL.'

However, Faruk does not want to think that Shakib has been left out of consideration in the team selection. In his words, 'Shakib has not retired yet. Nothing much has happened to Shakib. If he had retired yet...then I would have said he is not in the scene. We are now looking at the issues he has, how to do it by talking to the ministry. It is not a matter of me helping. I have said this before, I am still saying this.'

Now the BCB president has to wait for the decision of the Ministry of Youth and Sports regarding Shakib. Faruk said, 'Only if there is any instruction from the government level, if the problems he has; can be fixed. Only then, I think it is a matter that he can take a decision. Then he has a fitness, mental test, selection committee, they will decide.'