In a major boost to Sunrisers Hyderabad, their ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has decided to skip Bangladesh’s training camp ahead of the tri-nation series in Ireland and instead opted stay back in India for the latter half of IPL.

Shakib, who had initially informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board about his availability for the preparatory camp, apparently changed his mind last week. The decision had a lot do with foreign slots opening up for SRH.

“Shakib was expected to arrive on April 23 but now that is not happening,” BCB cricket operation chairman Akram Khan told Cricbuzz. “He has informed us that as someone had left from the Sunrisers [set-up] there is a chance that he might play and so he wanted to stay back.

“We have given him the permission as we believe if he can play it will always be good for him leading up to the tri-nation in Ireland,” Akram added.

Shakib, who has so far played only 1 match in IPL 2019, is certain to be a regular in SRH’s playing XI once the likes of Jonny Bairstow and David Warner leave for their respective World Cup preparatory camps.

Shakib is now expected to link up with the Bangladesh squad on just ahead of their departure for Ireland, slated for May 1.

SRH captain Kane Williamson, meanwhile said that Warner and Bairstow will be badly missed. “Without a doubt Warner and Bairstow will be big losses, they are world class players. We knew at the start of the tournament that we will lose them at the back end of the tournament and new guys will come in then,” Williamson said.

Currently at No. 4 in the points table with 5 wins in 9 matches, the Sunrisers Hyderabad have a good chance of making it to the play-offs if they manage keep up the good work in the latter half of the tournament. SRH next face table toppers CSK at Chennai on Tuesday.

First Published: Apr 22, 2019 19:10 IST