Bangladesh across-format skipper Shakib Al Hasan said on Saturday that he is not sure whether he is available in the forthcoming home series against Sri Lanka as only time can tell regarding it due to his present condition.
Shakib, who is playing for Rangpur Riders in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024, has been struggling with his eyes since last year’s ICC World Cup 2023 in India.
Shakib had blurred vision on one side of his left eye due to stress-related issues and it had a huge impact on his batting during that World Cup.
In the ongoing BPL, he is playing more as a spinner rather than an all-rounder and did not come to bat on two occasions as he is troubled seeing the ball while batting as he gets blurred at times.
Sri Lanka is scheduled to tour after the BPL for a full-fledged series comprising two Tests, three ODIs and as many T20Is.
“Time will tell,” Shakib told reporters when his attention was drawn regarding his availability during the home series against Sri Lanka at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium following Rangpur’s 77-run win over Sylhet Strikers on Saturday.
“We are still playing the tournament. I will speak to the officials, and then take the decision (about playing againstSri Lanka or not),” he said adding that he will also speak with Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) regarding his future as the ODI skipper, a thing he said he is not interested following the World Cup.
“I will take a decision in this regard (ODI captaincy) after talking with the board but still have not discussed it,” he said.
Shakib said he feels that he will be more comfortable once he starts making runs while adding that the experience of playing as a spinner instead of an all-rounder is something totally new to him.
“The more I score runs, I will be more comfort. I can’t find the rhythm when there are no runs,” said Shakib.
“I have never done this in my life (like) just playing with one side. It is the first time and I feel for Rangpur Riders. I am only able to fulfill half of their expectations,” he said.
“I want to thank the way they have handled the situation. I am proud of playing for this franchise,” he said adding that he realized when things are not going his way it becomes tough in the middle while he insisted that he is yet to give up his hope.
“I realized that when the time is bad, everything goes bad.  I am not thinking anything else (like quitting cricket) and now I am trying (to make a comeback) and let me finish my effort and later will think about it,” he further added.
BCB earlier announced that that Shakib will go through conservative treatment for his eye-problem as the Bangladesh captain was diagnosed with a retinal condition in his left eye and this revelation comes after the player reported concerns with respect to his visual functioning.
Shakib, who is doing everything possible to get back into his groove as a batsman that includes changing stance to trying out different drills, had met several physicians in the recent past regarding his eyes that includes going to England and Singapore for taking opinions of leading physicians.
However, Shakib is yet to find out what is the exact problem with his eyes.
“I don’t know when this (eyes) will improve. This thing that you are repeating about my eye, eye, eye, eye. There’s no problem in the eye. What you see wearing spectacles, I can see better than you. We are trying to find what has gone wrong,” said Shakib.
“I went to Singapore to see what happened to my eyes and body and we are trying to find out where the problem is,” he said adding that he is not too sure whether trying different things is having an impact on him or not.
“At times I feel that whether it(stress) is increasing (trying too many things) or whether doing this or that will be right or not. Now how can I find it out? Can you tell me? I am also confused with it (whether I am doing the right thing or not),” he concluded.