Shakib likely to skip ODIs against Windies

Shakib Al Hasan is expected to skip the ODIs against West Indies next month, BCB president Nazmul Hassan said after a board meeting in Dhaka on Wednesday. Shakib was initially named in all three squads, but now it seems he will leave the tour after the T20Is.

Shakib led the side for the first time in three years during their 2-0 Test series defeat to West Indies last week. He was made captain after Mominul Haque resigned from the position shortly before the tour.

Towards the end of Bangladesh's Test against Sri Lanka last month, Shakib made a caustic remark that he was available for all three formats in the West Indies since he was named in the squads. But Hassan said that he had asked for the leave before the West Indies tour.

"I heard that he [Shakib] had earlier [before going to the West Indies] told Jalal Yunus that he might not play the ODIs," Hasan said. "I guess if I talk to him today or tomorrow then I will get to know about it clearly. But he did not notify the board officially yet. But you can consider this as an official notice as he verbally relayed the message to Jalal bhai."

The likely reason for Shakib skipping the ODIs is the fact that the matches aren't part of the ODI Super League. Taijul Islam has reportedly been named his replacement in the ODI squad. Bangladesh are already without Mohammad Saifuddin, Shohidul Islam and Yasir Ali, who were all part of the white-ball squads.

It is understood that Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who was in the Test and ODI squad, will also join the T20I squad. Taskin Ahmed, who was supposed to play only the ODIs, will take part in the T20Is, too. Bangladesh play three T20Is on July 2, 3 and 7, before the ODIs on July 10, 13 and 16.

BCB to form working group 

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan Papon said on Wednesday that they have decided to form a working group in order to find ways to improve first-class cricket domestic structure. The discussion on domestic culture came up following the recent debacle in West Indies Tests.

"We have decided to form a working group to oversee our domestic first-class cricket,'' Nazmul told reporters at Mirpur following the fourth board meeting of his latest tenure. The working group will be formed by the board members.

"How to improve longer version cricket in the domestic circuit has been discussed. The working group will hand over three proposals and we have to see what the proposals are," Nazmul added. He felt that national team stars who are not doing well currently, can work on their game in domestic circuit to improve form.

"Those who are off form in the national side, if they could play in domestic cricket and then go back to internationals, it would be very good. For example, I am sure Mominul [Haque] will return. He is such a good cricket and we even said he is just a Test cricketer. He became a captain too. He is not getting runs for almost a year. My feeling is that if he plays in domestic cricket, he will return, it's just a matter of time," the BCB president said.

Meanwhile, next year's approximate budget was proposed in the board meeting today and will be approved in the AGM next month.