Bangladesh Cricket News Shakib unsure about captaincy future

Bangladesh's regular captain Shakib Al Hasan is yet to decide his future as far as leading the national cricket team is concerned.

Shakib missed the two-match Test series at home against New Zealand and did not feature in the recently concluded white-ball series against New Zealand in their own backyard after injuring his finger during the last ICC World Cup in India.

Bangladesh Cricket Board appointed Nazmul Hasan as interim captain and he was able to lead the team in this phase. So much so that it prompted national head coach Chandika Hathurusingha to endorse him as captain on a long-term basis after the New Zealand tour.

Under Nazmul's captaincy, Bangladesh won their first ODI and T20I against New Zealand away from home. Before coming to this white-ball tour, Shanto also showcased his Test captaincy skills as his team beat New Zealand in Sylhet.

Shakib has been out of cricket for quite some time due to finger injury and election campaign, but now he is focusing on cricket again with Bangladesh Premier League in front. The all-rounder joined his new franchise Rangpur Riders for a practice session at the Bashundhara Sports Complex on Tuesday, a day after starting preparations at the Sherebangla National Stadium to shake off the rust from his batting.

With Shakib's long-term availability being questioned due to his latest identity as a political leader, whether he will lead the party in the coming days remains a big question. Shakib insisted that he would clear the air soon by talking to the board.

Shakib told reporters after the practice session at BSC on Tuesday, "There has been no discussion about (the captaincy of the national team) so far but I will talk to the board and it will be discussed."

"Later it will be decided by everyone which will be best for the team," he said, adding that he is expecting good results in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup scheduled in the USA and West Indies from June 1.

"Every time the expectations are high and it will be the same this time as we have been playing very well in the T20 edition for the last one year," he said.

"The team is balanced now and everyone is playing well and we played well in New Zealand and so the expectations are high. It will be played in the USA and the West Indies where our cricket is probably better suited, so we will have a chance there," he said.

Shakib, who has batted for hours against spinners in the nets, insisted he hopes to be fit ahead of the BPL but added that he will understand the condition of his finger better once he starts bowling.

"It's been almost two-and-a-half months out of the field. I haven't been able to do any work on fitness, I haven't been able to do any work on skills. Naturally it will take some time to get ready and so I didn't want to waste any more time on it," the MP said 24 hours after being elected. Shakib said about focusing on cricket in between.

"I have started training but it will take a few more days. As I bowl with this finger (which is injured) naturally it will take some time but the progress is good."