DHAKA, (Reuters) – Bangladesh’s head of board, Nazmul Hassan, said players will have to specify what formats they will be available to under a new clause in their contracts following Shakib Al Hasan’s decision to skip home test series to play in the Indian Premier League.
Kolkata Knight Riders bought an all-round Shakib for 32 million Indian rupees ($ 441,940) on Thursday for IPL this year, which will begin in mid-April.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has reluctantly allowed the 33-year-old player to miss a two-Test series against Sri Lanka the same month but moving forward wants clarity from his contracted players about their availability for the national teams.
“We will enter into a new contract with the players,” BCB President Hassan told local media.
“It’s clearly mentioned who wants to play what format. If they have any other engagement, they must be clear about their availability.
“We confirm it in writing, so that no-one can say that they have not been given permission or that we are forcefully detaining them.”
Shakib, who returned to the national organization last month after introducing a one-year ban for failing to report corrupt methods, has recently been selective about playing test games.
Hassan said while the BCB was disappointed it didn’t want to force anyone to play.
“Couldn’t we have prevented Shakib from going (to the IPL)? He may have played but we don’t want it, ”he said.
“We want only those who play, who really love the game. We have tried to keep his interest. When Shakib had refused to play tests three years ago, we made him captain.
“I didn’t like his timing. He was among the players I expected to take charge of the difficult situation. It was disappointing. ”
($ 1 = 72.40 Indian rupees)