Shakib and Mustafizur played for Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals, respectively, in the IPL 2021 until the tournament was suspended on May 4.
Two days later, the prominent Bangladesh duo returned home to start their mandatory 14-day isolation period, which was reduced and relaxed to 12 days by the Ministry of Health in their country.
Bangladesh Cricket Board’s chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury, though, said it wasn’t really a special exemption on health safety regulations since Shakib and Mustafizur were moving directly from their hotel quarantine to the national team’s bio-bubble for the Sri Lanka series.
In their report, Cricbuzz mentioned that BCB officials informed them of all squad members reporting to the board and entering the team bubble on Tuesday. Leg-spinner Aminul Islam has been called in specially by the team management to replicate what it would be like facing Sri Lanka’s wrist-spinners during the intra-squad practice game to be played on May 20.
Minhajul Abedin, the BCB chief selector, said they aren’t too worried over lack of preparation time for their two mainstays – Shakib and Mustafizur – and are backing them to produce the goods.
Both players have given multiple negative COVID-19 tests in the last few weeks and will be up and running with ICC Super League points up for grabs for Bangladesh.
“I don’t think they have been away from cricket for a long time as they have taken part in the IPL,”
Abedin told Cricbuzz.
“They were indeed in quarantine but with the amount of experience they have, they won’t take time to get back into business.
They are going to take part in the practice game and I hope it will be sufficient for them along with the few days they will have for skill training.”
Sri Lanka reached Bangladesh with their squad on Sunday and will start practising from May 19 after completing their three-day quarantine.
The ODI series, featuring matches on May 23rd, 25th and 27th, will be played at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.
