¶¶Òõ¾«Æ·

Bangladesh Cricket Board president Faruque Ahmed said on Wednesday that he would discuss with Najmul Hossain Shanto about his reported intention of quitting the captaincy.

He also informed that ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was still available for the forthcoming ODI series against Afghanistan will begins on November 6 in UAE.

There were reports before the start of the second Test against South Africa in Chattogram that Shanto wanted to step down from the captaincy of all formats.

But there has been no official word about it from him yet.  He even skipped the pre-match press conference in Chattogram. 

Faruque, while talking to the reporters during the certificate presentation ceremony of the newly accredited umpires at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, didn’t directly mention whether Shanto wanted to step down. 

Faruque, speaking to reporters at the certificate presentation ceremony for the newly accredited umpires at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, did not directly mention Shanto’s desire to step down.

But while being asked about it, he said, ‘I don’t know if Shanto has talked with you. Sometimes news through social media may affect them. The players should be more aware of that.’ 

‘Whatever they feel, I think they should [go through] cricket operations, CEO, president—there are many steps that can be taken—rather than talking outside. 

‘If a player thinks that he cannot continue, then it’s his personal matter. If there is any request about it, then we will discuss’, he added. 

Faruque was expected to come to Chattogram on Wednesday night to solve the issue after attending a board meeting.

‘I will try to sit with the team, coach — everyone. Then there will be an outcome,’ he said.

Meanwhile, the BCB boss mentioned that the board was not involved in any capacity regarding the recent Shakib saga. 

The former captain expressed his desire to play his farewell Test in Mirpur but then didn’t come to the country after the interim government’s advice. 

‘It’s a matter of the government, the law enforcer, and Shakib Al Hasan. I’ve tried my best so that Shakib could retire from the country’, he said. 

‘And the matter [about him being in the Afghanistan series], as the team hasn’t been announced yet, I think he is available.’