Bangladesh Allrounder Shakib Al Hasan Pulls Out of IPL 2023 Due to International Engagements
Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan has withdrawn from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 due to international engagements and personal reasons. According to ESPNcricinfo, Shakib informed his franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders, about his decision on Sunday. The team will now start the process of seeking a replacement once the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) approves it.
Shakib Al Hasan opts out of IPL 2023
Shakib is set to have a busy schedule with the Bangladesh cricket team in the coming weeks. He and keeper-batter Litton Das missed Knight Riders’ first match against Punjab Kings while playing a home T20I series against Ireland.
The duo is also part of the Bangladesh squad for a one-off Test match against Ireland on March 15, followed by a tour of the UK, where Bangladesh will play three ODIs against Ireland in Chelmsford on May 9, 12, and 14.
Personal Reasons
Shakib cited personal reasons and his commitments with the Bangladesh cricket team as the reasons for his withdrawal from IPL 2023. He informed the Knight Riders that he would be busy playing for Bangladesh during this period and would also have to attend to some personal issues that would keep him away from the IPL.
The development also raises doubts over Litton Das’ participation in IPL 2023. Like Shakib, Das was signed by the Knight Riders at the player auction in December 2022. He will be part of the same two series as Shakib, but there is no confirmation yet whether Das will follow his teammate’s footsteps.
Availability of Bangladesh Players
On December 22, 2022, the day before the auction, the IPL had informed all teams about the availability of overseas players. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had informed the IPL about the “limited availability” of its players, saying that they would be “available from 8 April to 1 May” due to the Ireland series.
In March, Knight Riders communicated to the media that Shakib would be arriving in India after the third T20I against Ireland on March 31, while Litton would arrive after the one-off Test match, which runs until April 8. However, Shakib’s inclusion in the Bangladesh Test squad has reduced his availability for the IPL.
Impact on Kolkata Knight Riders
The absence of Shakib has left Kolkata Knight Riders with only six overseas players, including Litton Das, in their squad. The team has already been hit hard by player unavailability issues, with their full-time captain Shreyas Iyer ruled out of at least the first half of the season with a back injury.
Knight Riders have played one game in the season so far, losing a rain-affected contest against Punjab Kings in Mohali. They will play their next game on Thursday, at home against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Kolkata.
Shakib Al Hasan’s withdrawal from IPL 2023 is a significant setback for Kolkata Knight Riders. His absence means that the team will have to seek a replacement that can fill the void left by the experienced Bangladesh allrounder. It remains to be seen how the team will cope with the loss of Shakib and whether Litton Das will also opt-out of the tournament.
