Shakib's paternity leave cut, by wife

Shakib Al Hasan was not scheduled to play Zimbabwe at home. He was granted paternal leave to be with his wife Umme Ahmed Shishir in the USA - the couple is expecting their first child later this month. But there has been a change of plan: Shakib was back in Dhaka on Saturday evening, to play the Zimbabwe series, on the instructions of his wife.

"My wife told me to come to Bangladesh," Shakib said on Monday. "I am here because of her. I had the option [of staying back] but she told me, 'I wouldn't like the look on your face when you sit here and watch the matches on TV. It is better you go play.'"

Now Shakib is hoping things all go to schedule - the Zimbabwe series ends on November 15, a week before Shishir's due date.

"If it happens at the due time, I can finish the Zimbabwe series and reach there to be with her," he said. "I am talking to her constantly. She is healthy. There's nothing to worry about. I would feel good if I can finish the series properly."