Shakib, Mustafiz set to miss remaining IPL matches

Ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and pacer Mustafizur Rahman are all set to miss the rescheduled Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 as Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Nazmul Hasan Papon clearly said that BCB will not provide No Objection Certificate (NOC) to Shakib and Mustafiz for the rest of IPL.

Papon also said they are focusing on the upcoming three crucial series against Australia, England and New Zealand ahead of the T20 World Cup.

“I actually don’t see any possibility…it’s almost impossible to give them the NOC as the World Cup is coming up and we will be busy with some important series for our preparation for the World Cup,” Papon said during an interview with Bangladeshi TV channel Ekattor TV on Sunday.

Bangladesh is scheduled to tour to Zimbabwe in June-July for a Test, three ODIs and three T20Is playing five T20Is against Australia at home. New Zealand (three T20Is) and England (three ODIs and three T20Is) are expected to tour Bangladesh after that for white-ball matches in the lead up to the World Cup.

“We want to go to England with full strength. Both the ODI Super League and the World Cup T20 are important to us,” Papon added.

Shakib played three matches for KKR while Mustafizur played all games for Rajasthan Royals in IPL this season.

The money-spinning IPL, which was postponed due to the surge in Covid-19 cases in India, is expected to take place in September in Dubai.