Tigers practice session in Sylhet starts Thursday sans Shakib

Ace allrounder Shakib Al Hasan made him unavailable for the three-day practice camp in Sylhet for the upcoming Ireland series as he flew to USA to spend time with his family by the permission of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

He however will join Bangladesh team in London directly from the USA, an official of the BCB said.

Shakib opted out IPL, citing family reasons but played for Mohammedan Sporting Club in the Dhaka Premier League (DPL). Then he spent the Eid-uf-Fitr at his village home in Magura.

He was seen spending time with his family and friends during the Eid-ul-Fitr with jovial mood. However he left the country for USA silently.

Apart from Shakib, all of the team members will join the practice camp, according to the team sources.

The members of the Bangladesh team will leave Dhaka on evening flight today (Wednesday) for Sylhet. They will come back Dhaka on April 29 immediate after completing their three-day practice session. They however will board the UK flight on May 1.

The three ODIs, part of the ICC ODI Super League, are slated to be held on May 9, 12 and 14.

The series is particularly important for the Irish. If they can whitewash Bangladesh in the three-match series, which is the part of ICC ODI Super League, they will qualify to the ODI World Cup in India later this year directly at the expense of South Africa.