Early Exit from IPL Likely for Shakib Al Hasan, Mustafizur: Report

Shakib Al Hasan arriving with the KKR team 

Image: BCCI

Bangladesh cricketers Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman could be forced to cut short their IPL 2021 stints and head back home due to the quarantine rule imposed by the health ministry, Nizamuddin Chowdhury, the Bangladesh Cricket Board chief said on Monday (3 May).

According to rules, those returning from India and South Africa to Bangladesh will have to go through a 14-day quarantine before resuming work in the country.

While the Bangladesh cricket team, returning from Sri Lanka, have been afforded a relaxation from the Directorate General of Health Services, the same for those coming from the IPL is unlikely.

"We have asked them (Shakib and Mustafizur) to let us know what is their plan for the next 15 days while we have also asked the health ministry to know what kind of quarantine protocol the two players will need to follow,'' BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz on Monday.

"If the health ministry suggests that they will have to follow seven or 14 days quarantine, they will have to return earlier than scheduled from IPL. But before that, we have to know what rules will be in place for them," he said. "We are bound by the Bangladesh Government rules, and will take decisions according to the guideline provided by the government."

Shakib (KKR) and Mustafizur (RR) were initially expected to return on 19 May ahead of the ODIs against Sri Lanka. The Bangladesh cricket board is also looking to work out the quarantine protocols for travel from South Africa for coaches Russell Domingo and Ryan Cook, who are expected to return home before joining the team.

Earlier, KKR had their game against Royal Challengers Bangalore postponed as two Kolkata players tested positive in Ahmedabad while the Royals’ next game (Wednesday) against Chennai Super Kings is also set to be postponed.