No one is indispensable in team: BCB president

Shakib Al Hasan will not play two Tests for Bangladesh against Sri Lanka because of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Bangladesh Cricket Board has granted leave to the left-arm all-rounder.

The decision taken by Shakib has created strong criticism as usual. BCB president Nazmul Hasan Papon spoke to media for the first time on Monday since the incident. He clearly said, “No one is indispensable in Bangladesh team. BCB will not force anyone who does not want to play for Bangladesh. This message is not just for Shakib, but for every cricketer of Bangladesh.”

Is the board hostage to cricketers? In reply, Nazmul said, “There is no way to deny it at all. It is not like that it did not happen earlier. Now our minds are very clear. We will not force anyone to play. Who doesn’t want to play, won’t play. No one in the team is indispensable. We want everyone to play, but if someone likes to leave the national team and play somewhere else, they can certainly go. This message is for everyone, not just for Shakib Al Hasan.”

Although granting leave for playing franchise cricket during the game of national team is not a good example, but BCB is helpless. The BCB president wants the cricketers to play Bangladesh cricket with love in the future. His straightforward words is ‘Couldn’t Shakib have been forced to play? What would he do if he was not allowed? But we do not want that. We want those who love to play Test cricket to play. I do not want to play by force. He did not want to play Tests three years ago.”