Shakib Will Play Test Series in South Africa: Papon

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan Papon confirmed that Shakib Al Hasan will be part of the team in the Tigers tour to South Africa next month.

After a brief chatting with Shakib, following the third and final ODI between Bangladesh and Afghanistan, the BCB boss confirmed the news.

"We had a brief chat from a long distance. When Shakib saw me, he said he had some discussion with me and then I said loudly, first you tour South Africa with the team, and then we would sit together to discuss your future plan. Shakib then gave a nod and said ok, whatever you want, it will happen," Papon told the media here today.

Earlier, BCB Cricket Operations chairman Jalal Younus informed that Shakib Al Hasan will sit with the BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon within a couple of days to discuss his future plan.

Younus said the ace all-rounder would particularly let BCB know about his decision on the upcoming South Africa tour. He said that the president is expecting to know Shakib's plan for future series also as Bangladesh is going to play a lot of matches in all three formats in the coming year.

Shakib earlier wrote to BCB, seeking a permit to allow him a six-month break from the Test cricket, which also saw him get a break from the South Africa tour. He particularly wrote the letter, thinking that he would get a team in IPL. The BCB also allowed him to take a break.

But since he didn't get any team in the IPL auction, that plan became invalid.