IPL postponed: BCB to bring back Shakib, Mustafiz under special arrangements

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will expedite the return of all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and pacer Mustafizur Rahman as the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been postponed indefinitely. 

The BCB plans to bring back them with special clearance from the concerned ministry.

The authorities on Tuesday (May 03) announced the postponement of the IPL due to rise of the coronavirus alarmingly.

Shakib and Mustafiz were scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on May 18 to play the ODI series against Sri Lanka. But BCB will bring back them before. 

BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury Sujan told risingbd on Tuesday afternoon that he just saw the news that the IPL was postponed. Shakib and Mustafiz have not been contacted yet. There is no point in staying there as the IPL as suspended. There is also Sri Lanka series ahead. They will find the best way and bring them back to the country under special arrangements.”

Flights with India remain suspended at the moment. In that case, the two cricketers will have to return from India under special arrangements. Shakib is currently in Ahmedabad while Mustafiz in Delhi with his wife. They are returning from the highly risky country of coronavirus. Therefore, there are questions about what will be their quarantine policy.

The BCB has already written a letter to the Ministry of Health to be confirmed whether the quarantine will be for three days or 14 days. On Monday, Nizamuddin Chowdhury said, “The government has adopted a new 15-day quarantine policy for returning passengers from India and South Africa. Now we are a little worried about whether Shakib and Mustafiz will also fall in this policy. We have written to the Ministry of Health to get a clear idea about the whole matter. We asked them for advice.”

Meanwhile, the cricketers of the national team are returning from Sri Lanka today. They have to maintain room quarantine for three days. However, discussions are going on whether to do it at the hotel designated by BCB or at home. The initial discussion was that the cricketers would stay in the hotel. However, before boarding a flight for the country, everyone who gets Coronavirus Negative Certificate and would be able to maintain quarantine at home. Coach Russell Domingo is not returning with the team. He flew for South Africa from Sri Lanka. After spending time with family, he will join Bangladesh team before the start of the series.