BCB yet to clear Shakib, Tamim for IPL

05-Mar-2013

Franchises not seeking replacements

By Nagraj Gollapudi
Kolkata Knight Riders, the franchise that Shakib represents in the IPL, remain hopeful that the player will be available for the sixth season.
"It is slightly unclear at the moment. We will have to wait and see," Venky Mysore, the Knight Riders' chief executive said.
However, he pointed out that franchises were always prepared for such scenarios. When the player signs the contract, the NOC clearly mentions that the player's availability is subject to the ICC's Future Tours Programme or any last-minute tours arranged by their country's board.
Mysore also ruled out the option of KKR seeking a replacement for Shakib in case he missed out due to the Zimbabwe tour or if he failed to recover from his shin injury.
Pune Warriors, Tamim's franchise, have also decided to monitor the situation before they make a final decision. "We are aware that he might miss a good part of the tournament. But, at the moment, we will have to just wait," a Warriors official said. The official did not rule out the team seeking a replacement for Tamim.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will take a call on Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal's participation in the Indian Premier League after discussion with the team management as the tournament clashes with Bangladesh's tour to Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe tour commences on April 13 and ends on May 12, while the IPL is scheduled between April 3 and May 26.

Shakib and Tamim, who play for Kolkata Knight Riders and Pune Warriors respectively, will have two windows before and after the Zimbabwe tour during which they can play four matches for their franchise. However, the players need a No Objection Certificate from the board to participate in the IPL.

"We are yet to take a decision on it (issuing the NOC)," BCB's acting CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury told ESPNcricinfo. "The board will take a call after speaking to the team management."

The duo were among the Bangladesh players who signed a central contract with the BCB before the Sri Lanka tour after the board president approved of changes to the contract.

Bangladesh will play two Twenty20s on April 13 and April 14 before a three-match ODI series between April 17 and 21. The teams will then play two Test matches in Harare from April 30. The tour was originally scheduled for mid-2012 but was postponed after Zimbabwe Cricket decided to re-lay the pitches in Harare and Bulawayo.

Tamim Iqbal Shakib Al Hasan Bangladesh Bangladesh tour of Zimbabwe

Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent