Shakib Al Hasan to be unavailable for Sri Lanka Test series, confirms Bangladesh Cricket Board

Former Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan has decided to skip the upcoming two Test matches against Sri Lanka, the BCB confirmed on Thursday, February 22, to Cricbuzz.

Bangladesh will be playing an all-format series against Sri Lanka in March 2024 and Shakib was not selected for the white-ball series. BCB chief further confirmed to Cricbuzz that he will also be skipping the two-match Test series which is a part of the ongoing WTC cycle.

Shakib has been facing troubles with his eyes for the last few months and even revealed that he played the entire World Cup with the persisting problem. The problems increased as he struggled to bat in the Bangladesh Premier League where he scored 249 runs in 11 matches.

“He (Shakib) wanted a break from the entire series against Sri Lanka as he didn’t want to take part in international cricket. I think his eyes are fine at the moment but I feel he wants a break so that he can come back to international cricket fully fit,” Yunus told Cricbuzz.

Bangladesh will play three T20Is, three ODIs and two Test matches against Sri Lanka from March 4-April 3. Reports further say that he might be participating in the Dhaka Premier League for Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club to get some batting practice to make a comeback to international cricket.

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Recently Shakib led Bangladesh in the ICC World Cup 2023. He played his fifth World Cup with Bangladesh finishing eighth with just two wins and seven losses. Shakib had a below-par tournament with bat and ball scoring 186 runs in seven matches at an average of 26.57 and picking nine wickets with the ball.

Shakib Al Hasan Diagnosed With Retinal Condition

The biggest news concerning Shakib came out in January earlier this year when he was diagnosed with a retinal condition in his left eye. He further revealed that he played the entire World Cup in India with this condition.

“Shakib has been complaining of subtle issues with his left eye. After consulting Ophthalmologists in Bangladesh and abroad and after multiple eye assessments, it was confirmed that he is suffering from Extrafoveal Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSR) of the left eye. It has been decided that a conservative approach will be adopted for managing the issue for now,” Bangladesh Cricket Board senior physician Debashish Chowdhury said in a press release.

“Extrafoveal Central Serous Chorioretinopathy is a condition that affects the retina, leading to visual disturbances. The medical team overseeing Shakib’s case is optimistic about managing the condition effectively with a conservative approach,” he further added.

Shakib who has involved himself in politics as well recently will have a decision to make with the T20 World Cup 2024 approaching whether he wants to play in the tournament. He has been playing international cricket for nearly two decades, making his debut in 2006. He last played for Bangladesh in the World Cup in India.

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