Bangladeshi famed all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has denied having made any threat to quit Tests and ODI for Bangladesh, reports UNB.
He made the remarks while talking to reporters at the Shahjalal International Airport Sunday on his return from London.
He apologised to coach Chandika Hathurusingha for spat over his return from the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). He also said chairman of the BCB's cricket operations committee Akram Khan had given him the green signal to leave for Barbados on July 2.
Former national skipper Shakib Al Hasan reportedly made the threat recently after Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha asked him to return to Bangladesh's training camp midway through the CPL on August 1. But, Shakib wanted to return home after completion of the tournament on August 16.
"I didn't make this comment… it was the coach's comment," Shakib told reporters, adding: "Why should I say something like this? If I didn't wish to play for Bangladesh, would I have returned today? I would have left without telling anyone. I want to play for Bangladesh at least until the 2023 World Cup."
While talking to reporters later at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Shakib said he had apologised to the coach for the spat they had had.
Shakib had wanted to stay in the Caribbean till the end of the CPL (August 16) and join the Bangladesh team in West Indies before the first ODI on August 20.
But, Hathurusingha wanted him to play till July 30 and return to Dhaka and join the Bangladesh team. "I was angry and I said a few things that I shouldn't have, but I said sorry and he accepted that as well."
Shakib said, "Because I was on a flight for 10 hours…. I couldn't talk to him and that's why he probably complained in a letter. I didn't have time to talk to him. I tried to reason with him and explain that should I come back for just ten days?"
Shakib said before he left for Barbados, he had spoken to Akram after speaking to two other BCB officials on July 1 and 2. Back in December, Shakib obtained a No Objection Certificate for playing in
the MCC-Rest of the World match, and he had thought it was the same NOC for CPL.
"I have always obtained the NOC before going to all these leagues," Shakib said. "Tamim and I took NOC for the ROW-MCC game. I thought it was the same NOC for CPL, but Cricket Operations Manager Sabbir Khan old me that it wasn't the NOC for CPL."
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