After initially wanting to leave South Africa due to several members in his family getting hospitalized, Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan has changed his mind and will now stay back for the third ODI in Centurion.
Bangladesh team director Khaled Mahmud said that Al Hasan has reconsidered his stance on returning to Dhaka and is expected to leave after the third ODI on March 23 instead. Reports suggest that several members of his family, including children, have been hospitalized due to various ailments, and the player had initially decided to return home.
Mahmud also added that for the last few days, Shakib had been in touch with his family contemplating whether he should leave the tour to return home. The Bangladesh Cricket Board had even arranged for a ticket for his return but he decided to stay back a few hours later.
“A number of his family members are sick so he is in hesitation. He is speaking to his family about whether he needs to return to Dhaka. We have had to book a few tickets for him in the last few days. We booked a ticket today as well, because he was supposed to leave today.
“But Shakib turned it down himself. He will return after playing [the third ODI]. Definitely, he was supposed to return home, which Jalal (Yunus, chairman of the BCB’s cricket operations committee) bhai said earlier in the day. But shortly afterwards, Shakib decided that he will leave after playing (the third ODI).”
Mahmud said.
The team manager also showered him with praise for putting the national before his family’s emergency. The third ODI will be the series decider against the Proteas.
“It is a family situation, which is important for everyone. Otherwise he was very intense from the start of the tour. Very serious about playing. He was play-of-the-match in the first game. He wants to win the series for Bangladesh”.
