CRICKET POLL

Bangladesh Cricket Board president Faruque Ahmed on Saturday said that Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal are available for the Champions Trophy. Recently, BCB chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain indicated that he is at dark regarding the futures of Tamim and Shakib as far as their participation in the Champions Trophy is concerned.

Apart from having political issues that barred Shakib from entering the country, the veteran all-rounder came under the spotlight for a suspected bowling action that has forced him to get a clearance again in order to bowl in international cricket and in other domestic competitions.

Tamim on the other hand had began his preparation for the upcoming BPL with the ongoing NCL T20 and already hit two half centuries to prove that he still has something to offer despite playing cricket after a gap of seven months.

"If any player does not retire then he is definitely available for selection (for the Champions Trophy)," Faruque told reporters following board meeting at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Friday.

"Shakib issue is a totally different issue and there is nothing new. In the last West Indies tour he was not in a mental state to play and now Shakib will say whether he will play BPL or what is his state and I cannot say anything because I don't have any update regarding him," he said.

"As far as Tamim is concerned look what the chief selector said. There is no policy and if a player is yet to retire and the selectors think he is required for the team in that case the selection committee will have to talk with that particular player," he pointed out.

Faruque added that they will make a call on Najmul Hossain's captaincy after he completes his tenure in December. Najmul earlier insisted that he is not ready to continue as leader after the home series against South Africa and only changed his mind after Faruque convinced him to stay on.

"We have just completed a series and there is nothing ahead of Champions Trophy as the boys will play BPL so we have time in our hand. We have not discussed anything in this regard. We will discuss when the time comes," said Faruque.

"We will decide after December (regarding Shanto's captaincy)," he added.