The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has allowed ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan to skip the home test series against Sri Lanka and play in the IPL. The left-hander was picked up by the Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 3.20 crore in the IPL mini auctions conducted on 18th February in Chennai.
BCB’s cricket operations head Akram Khan said that Shakib expressed his desire to play the T20 league and board didn’t want to force anyone to go against their will. "Shakib wants to play T20s at the moment. He doesn't want to play Tests. He has asked for a leave for the IPL,” Prathom Alo, a leading Bangladesh daily quoted Khan as saying.
“We also don't want to force someone who doesn't want to play Tests, which is why the board has decided to grant him the leave," Khan added.
The Bangladeshi, base-priced at 2.00 crores and expected to be one of the highest grosser, surprisingly became a bargain deal for the Knight Riders, being netted in just 3.2 crores.