Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan has said that many senior players in the side are reluctant to play Test cricket after their 2-0 drubbing at the hands of the West Indies.
The BCB president name-dropped Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman as two such players during his post-series briefing.
“Even in the ICC, I don’t see any other country other than England and Australia showing interest to play Tests. As a board, they are not interested in Tests. The broadcasters are also not interested. They say they don’t have any interest where there is no audience,” Hassan was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
“We are seeing in our country that some of our senior players don’t want to play Test cricket. Shakib doesn’t want to play Tests. Mustafiz also doesn’t want to play, but he hasn’t mentioned it. He wants it to a point. Maybe since he is injury-prone, he feels he will get injured playing Tests?
“Maybe they feel Test is quite tough, say for someone like Rubel (Hossain). Bringing in younger players is our only option.”
Shakib Al Hasan has been named as one the ‘reluctant’ players.
Shakib had previously been granted exemption from participating in the Test series against South Africa last year upon his personal request.
Mustafizur, meanwhile, missed the Test series in the West Indies due to an injury he sustained while playing for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL. The BCB chief has warned that the pacer will not be granted a NOC (No Objection Certificate) to play in overseas T20 leagues for the next two years.
“The saddest part is that he (Mustafizur) gets hurt playing franchise leagues, and then can’t serve the country. It is not acceptable. I have already told him that he can’t play outside for the next two years,” Hassan stated.
