Bangladesh board allows players to miss national duty for IPL

Bangladesh are due to play a Test series against Sri Lanka next month -- details not finalised yet -- and that will be followed by a three-match ODI series in May, according to tentative schedule.

"We will surely give NOC to (pace bowler) Mustafizur [Rahman] if he applies for it. We have given NOC to Shakib [Al Hasan] and it will be the same for Mustafizur," Akram Khan, chairman of BCB's cricket operations told the media here.

"The board has decided that whoever will ask for the NOC. We will give because it is useless to insist someone who is not willing to play," he said.

The Bangladesh board had initially refused to give NOC to Rahman.

It had allowed Shakib to miss Test matches against Sri Lanka that are to be played in April.

The left-arm pace bowler and Shakib are the only two Bangladesh players in the Indian Premier League.

While Rahman was picked by Rajasthan Royals for Rs.1 crore, all-rounder Shakib was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs.3.2 crore.

Bangladesh tour New Zealand for three ODIs and three T20Is from March 20 to April 1 and then follow it with Tests (as part of the World Test Championship) and ODIs (as part of World Cup Super League) against Sri Lanka.

Akram was quoted as saying by Bangladesh newspaper Prothom Alo, "Shakib wants to play T20s at the moment. He doesn't want to play Tests. He has asked for a leave for the IPL. We also don't want to force someone who doesn't want to play Tests, which is why the board has decided to grant him the leave."