Shakib Al Hasan to miss New Zealand tour after being granted paternity leave
Bangladesh are likely to leave for New Zealand on February 24, nine days after the Dhaka Test ends
Mohammad Isam
11-Feb-2021
Shakib Al Hasan is not part of the ongoing Dhaka Test against West Indies • AFP via Getty Images
Shakib Al Hasan will miss Bangladesh's tour of New Zealand later this month as the BCB granted him paternity leave for the duration of the entire tour. According to BCB cricket operations chairman Akram Khan, board president Nazmul Hassan spoke with Shakib before the decision was made.
"Shakib is not going [to New Zealand]. He applied [for leave] to stay with his [expecting] wife. After talking to the board president, we granted him leave," Khan said.
New Zealand vs Bangladesh 2020-21
March 20, 1st ODI, Dunedin
March 23, 2nd ODI, Christchurch
March 26, 3rd ODI, Wellington
March 28, 1st T20I, Hamilton
March 30, 2nd T20I, Napier
April 1, 3rd T20I, Auckland
Shakib's thigh strain forced him out of the ongoing Dhaka Test against West Indies. He is currently recovering under the BCB's medical team.
Khan said that the Bangladesh touring party is likely to leave for New Zealand on February 24, nine days after the Dhaka Test ends. The players will not have a training camp in Dhaka, as they will only have a short time with their family before getting into a hard quarantine in New Zealand.
"The chances of holding a camp in Bangladesh are low. It's very difficult to keep players in quarantine or bio-bubble all the time. After this series we will send them on vacation. After that, we might take them from here to there [New Zealand] and train."
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84