Tigers' short DPL stint before Sussex departure

Ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan flew directly to India from Sri Lanka to play for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), while Mustafizur Rahman got clearance from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and, according to team manager Khaled Mahmud, the left-arm paceman is likely to fly for India tomorrow to join Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Sunrisers coach Tom Moody also confirmed Mustafizur's plans.

"Mustafizur is more than likely to join the squad in Mumbai," Moody said at a press conference in Hyderabad.

Cricket fans are still engaged in discussions about their hero Mashrafe Bin Mortaza's retirement from T20Is, and some formed a human chain in front of the BCB's headquarters at Mirpur yesterday, especially after BCB president Nazmul Hassan fuelled the fire after arriving with the team from Sri Lanka. He stated that Mashrafe had not retired, but only quit captaincy and would be available for T20Is if and when needed.

However, the rest of the national team players will now shift their focus to the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League, which is scheduled to kick off from April 12.

It is still unconfirmed how many matches the national players will play in the country's most coveted 50-over competition as they will be leaving for Sussex on April 26, where they will take part in a training camp as part of their preparations for the tri-nation series in Ireland and the ICC Champions Trophy in England.

The foreign staff including head coach Chandika Hathurusingha, who went on leave after the series against Sri Lanka, will join the team in Sussex.

"We will sit tomorrow [Sunday] to discuss the details regarding the national players' participation in the Premier League and upcoming tours to Ireland and England," informed chief selector Minhajul Abedin yesterday.

After going through a ten-day camp in Sussex, the Tigers will travel to Ireland to play the tri-nation series against the hosts and New Zealand. They will play their first match against Ireland on May 12 at Malahide in Dublin.

The Tigers will return to England following the tri-nation series to play in the ICC Champions Trophy, where they have been drafted into Group A alongside England, Australia and New Zealand.

They will play their first match in the competition against England on June 1. The tournament will conclude on June 18.