Lipu wants Shakib to play DPL matches

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu wants ace all rounder Shakib Al Hasan to play some matches of the Super League phase of the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) ahead of the five-match T20 International series against Zimbabwe, starting on May 3.

Shakib, a player of Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club played DPL group phase matches after the Sri Lanka series and thereafter headed to USA to spend Eid holidays with his family.
"We have already contacted Shakib Al Hasan. He will return to country at the end of this month," Lipu, also a former national captain said on Tuesday.

"He has the opportunity to play some matches of the Super League and then he will get into the supervision of the team management. There he will have the opportunity to train with some cricketing skills. But certainly we want him to play some matches at the fag end of the Super League."

But whether the star all rounder will play the Super League matches is in doubt, considering the fatigue due to long flight. Moreover, the shimmering heat that affected the country severely puts the players at risk of injury.

However, Lipu believes Shakib can cope with the scorching heat if he plays DPL matches.

EM