Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib-Al-Hasan has provided clarity over his decision to skip the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka to be available for the complete duration of IPL.
Shakib said Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has "misrepresented" his decision as he wants to improve playing IPL. He added that Bangladesh is out of the World Test Championship and hence it would be better for him to play IPL as T20 World Cup is scheduled later this year.
"These two Tests are our last matches in the World Test Championship so it is not as if we are going to play the final," Shakib told Cricfrenzy.
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"We are at the very bottom of the points table. I don't think it makes much of a difference.
"The other major reason is that the World Cup T20 is in India later this year. It is a very important tournament where we have much to achieve. There isn't much to achieve in these two Tests. I think it is a better option that I prepare myself for something bigger."
The 33-year-old said he has mentioned his plans for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the letter to the BCB. "People are continuously talking about this (skipping the Test series against Sri Lanka). Those who are saying that I will no longer play Test cricket haven't read my letter properly.
"I did not mention anywhere in my letter that I do not want to play Tests. I mentioned in my letter that I want to play in the IPL to prepare myself properly for World Cup but despite that Akram Bhai (BCB cricket operation chairman) has repeatedly said that I do not want to play Tests," he said.
Shakib is seeing playing in IPL as an advantage before the T20 World Cup which will be hosted by India. "The ground where I will play IPL now will be the ground where I will play the World Cup match after four months. The players with whom I will play the IPL will be the players against whom I will play in the World Cup.
"For this reason, I will get more advantages than anyone else from Bangladesh, and it will also help me to share my experiences with the team that I will gain by playing in the IPL," he said.
(With PTI Inputs)
