Shakib set for T10 action with Kerala Thursday

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib al Hasan departed Dhaka Wednesday to join T10 franchise Kerala Kings in Dubai. The left-arm all-rounder is likely to be in action for Kerala in the tournament opener against Bengal Tigers at Sharjah Cricket Stadium Thursday. Shakib got only a night’s rest after completing his BPL 2017 mission for holder Dhaka Dynamites. Dhaka lost the final as Rangpur Riders lifted their maiden BPL trophy following a record 146-run innings from opener Chris Gayle. Meanwhile, two other Bangladesh cricketers - opener Tamim Iqbal and left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman – are yet to join their respective T10 teams for the maiden edition of the tournament. Tamim was given a No Objection Certificate to play for Pakhtoons but his departure got delayed due to a BCB hearing, scheduled for Thursday. The Bangladesh batsman, while playing for Comilla Victorians, found himself in hot water with the board after criticising the below-par wickets in the second Dhaka phase of BPL 5.

The Star All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan goes to Kerala Kings in #PlayersDraft2017 (Round 3) for #T10CricketLeague happening right now at #Dubai pic.twitter.com/ra9ZaWUbCw

— Karachi Kings (@KarachiKingsARY) November 5, 2017

Tamim was handed a letter by the board asking for explanation on his comments to the media regarding the wickets, despite the fact that the low-scoring wickets at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka during the final phase of the tournament fetched criticism widely. Meanwhile for Mustafizur, picked by Bengal Tigers in the T10 players’ auction, the reason for delay was his shoulder injury and the board did not issue him an NOC when this report was filed. Mustafizur picked up an injury on his left shoulder during Bangladesh’s tour of South Africa earlier this year. The left-arm pacer missed the first-leg matches for his BPL franchise Rajshahi Kings. It is understood that the BCB think-tank wants to take some load off Mustafizur and rest him ahead of Bangladesh’s busy international schedule in the coming year.