Shakib clarifies Taskin’s team bus absence amidst India tour uncertainty

The 37-year-old left Dhaka on July 1 for the 2024 Major League Cricket where he’s a part of the Los Angeles Knight Riders. Shakib will be playing the Global T20 in Canada and represent the nation in August for a probable two-match away Test series against Pakistan. 

"I don't have many plans. There are two T20 tournaments in front of me one is MLC and the other one is the Global T20 League in Canada and let me see where I stand after playing these two tournaments because I need to understand how I feel," said Shakib before leaving for MLC.

When asked about the India series in September and October, the former Bangladesh captain also expressed that he is not interested in planning for a long time at the moment, and prioritizes short-term instead.

"There is international cricket and there is a series against Pakistan and I am planning till that point of time and not planning beyond that. Now I don't have time to plan for three-four years and so planning for three to six months is better and later will think about my next plan and so till now I am planning till the Pakistan series," he added.

Shakib also cleared the air on Taskin Ahmed's late arrival for a Super Eight game. He agreed that the tall pacer missed the team bus and reached the ground just ten minutes before the toss.

"The team bus starts at a certain point and there is a rule for cricketers that team bus does not stop for anyone and if anyone misses it in that case he comes in the next car. The manager's car or a taxi is there and the support of transport was difficult in the West Indies. When Taskin arrived it was five to 10 minutes before the toss and certainly, it was difficult to pick him at that point in the team and it was difficult for him as well," Shakib said.

He also highlighted the complications of transportation in the Caribbean islands and emphasized Taskin's apology after incurring an unintentional mistake.

"Taskin apologized to the team for that afterwards and everyone in the team took it normally because a man can mistake and anyone can commit unintentional mistake and he accepted it and the thing ended at that point of time,"