Agencies
Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and pacer Mustafizur Rahman will not have the chance to prepare for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka as they will have to go through a 14-day institutional quarantine after arriving from India, where they were participating in the Indian Premier League.
Bangladesh's Directorate General of Health Services officials told Cricbuzz, on Tuesday (May 4), that the duo will have to complete quarantine at a government-specified quarantine center.
Cricbuzz earlier reported that Bangladesh Cricket Board was in talks with DGHS officials regarding the relaxation of the quarantine protocol of the duo as they are expected to feature in the upcoming three-match series.
Professor Abul Bashar Mohammad KhurshidAlam, director-general of DGHS told Cricbuzz that they have received an application regarding the relaxation for Shakib and Mustafizur from BCB and informed them that they will have to complete a 14-day institutional quarantine upon arriving from India.
"They will have to do 14-day institutional quarantine,'' said Basar. "BCB had applied to us for them (reducing the quarantine period) but we have informed them that they don't have any other choice but to follow the rule that is applicable for everyone,'' he said. "They have to complete the quarantine in our specified quarantine center and that can be either Hotel Sonargaon or Hotel Raddison."
Initially, Shakib and Mustafizur, who are playing for Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals respectively in the ongoing IPL, were expected to return on May 19 and join the team after completing a three-day quarantine for the three-match ODI series, scheduled to start from May 23.
However, following the suspension of IPL 2021, Shakib and Mustafizur will reach Dhaka within the next 48 hours through a special arrangement as all air travel is suspended from India to Bangladesh.
BCB is desperate to have the duo back as soon as possible as they want to make sure they are available for the Sri Lanka series.
"There is no flight at the moment, so if they have to come, they will have to come on a special arrangement,'' said BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury.
However, head coach Russell Domingo said that he is not too concerned with the lack of preparation of Shakib and Mustafizur, and added that their presence will be critical for Bangladesh's chances in the ICC Super League and world cup qualification.
"Players will have three days of practice before the Eid vacation. And good to have Shakib and Mustafizur back when they do arrive,'' said Domingo. ''The next series will be important as qualification points are up for the grabs. We need to bounce back after a tough series in New Zealand.
"I've seen Mustafizur bowl good cutters. Those types of wickets are really helping his type of bowling and good to see him having a good campaign so far."
Meanwhile, Domingo and fielding coach Ryan Cook, who were set to go home to South Africa before returning ahead of the Sri Lanka series, have arrived directly to Bangladesh from Sri Lanka, along with the rest of the team, as BCB failed to get relaxation for them either.
As per a new quarantine rule, which came into effect from May 1, foreign travelers coming from India and South Africa will have to go through a 14-day quarantine before resuming work in the country. BCB required special permission from the DGHS to avail any relaxation on that and applied for it.
