Shakib available for third ODI amid family's health crisis

Allrounder Shakib Al Hasan decided to play the third and final ODI on Wednesday despite a number of his family members currently going through health complications back in Bangladesh.

Shakib's mother, son, daughter and his mother-in-law currently are admitted into the hospital after suffering from various kinds of health crisis.

Since the situation doesn't cross the alarming threshold as of now, Shakib, whose heroic 64 ball-77 scripted Bangladesh's first ever victory on South African soil, decided to stay with the team.

Thanks to Shakib, Bangladesh beat South Africa in the first match by 38 runs but Kagiso Rabada helped the hosts to level the series and made the third ODI on March a series deciding one.

There was confusion regarding whether Shakib was set to return home as Jalal Yunus, chairman of BCB's cricket operations committee, first informed that the all-rounder had decided to fly back tonight but later he said that the decision has been changed.

"I have spoken to Shakib about the situation. You have already known that a number of family members of Shakib are currently going through health crisis, he added.

His mother, mother-in-law and two children have been suffering from various kinds of health complications," Younus said here today.

"He is now in very bad state. Since there is still an ODI on March 23, he decided to play the third ODI if the situation doesn't cross alarming threshold."

Younus said the BCB will give Shakib the freedom to take the decision whether to return or to stay, reports UNB.

"BCB will stand by him in the wake of the situation. It's a family crisis and Shakib can take any decision according to his wish."