The speculation that was circulated surrounding the iconic all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has partially been true. Bangladesh team management relaxed Shakib for the next away Test series against the top-fight South Africa. Keeping Shakib out from the Test squad, BCB selection panel announced the 15-man Tigers squad for the South Africa tour. The rumour was rife after the conclusion of the home Test series against Australia that Shakib applied to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president for not playing Test cricket for the next six months because of his mental and physical tiredness. But the board kept an option here for Shakib if he feels better and seeks to play the second and last Test of the two-match Test series against the Proteas, he may join the team and play it. BCB director and its operation committee chairman Akram Khan and BCB selection panel chairman Minhajul Abedin Nannu acknowledged the matter of Shakib’s application for the six-month vacation from Test cricket.

“Yesterday Shakib sent a letter to our CEO seeking a six-month rest from Test cricket. We have discussed the matter among us and decided to release him for the forthcoming Test series against the South Africa,” said Akram Khan.  “But if he desires to play the second Test after being felt well, we’ll then pick him for it,” Khan told reporters.

“The series against South Africa has been comprised of two Tests. If he wants to play the second Test, he will then be played. We’ve kept an option for him,” he added.

Bangladesh will take off for South Africa on September 16 to play the full-fledged tour in the African country, where in they play two Tests as many as Twenty20 Internationals along with three-match one-day series.  BCB operation committee chairman said that Shakib will not fly for South Africa with the team but if he wants to play the second then we’ll arrange for him.

“He will not go with the team. If he seeks to play the second Test, he will go later in South Africa to join the team,” the BCB director said.  

“We released him for the two Tests. We’ve kept the second Test open for him. He is the key player of our team. The position we hold now is important to do well in all the three formats of games,” he also said.

It is learnt that Shakib mentioned in his letter that he is very much tired mentally and physically as Akram said that he passed a tough international schedule for the last eight to nine months so he needed some rests.  “It’s true that he play much more cricket for the last one year. For this he sought rest for some days,” he viewed.

“We have kept an option for him. If his mindset is changed he may join the team and play the second Test. We didn’t release him for the six months. For the nonce we’ve released him for the two Tests,” he told.

He said that they are not lost any key player of our team like Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. Khan disclosed that they took such decision within the few minutes while they all went to meet with our prime minister to handover the BCB’s promised money for the country’s flood-affected people.   

“We went to meet with our prime minister to hand over the money what we’ve decided to give for the PM relief fund for the flood-affected people across the country. We all were present there and took the decision within the few minutes,” he said, adding: “But we will take our decision regarding Shakib letter within the next few days.