Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib-al Hasan, picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for Rs 1.5 crore, is understood to have opted out of this year’s IPL.

The Bangladesh Test and T20I captain, along with his teammate Litton Das, was supposed to have joined the Knight Riders after the April 4-8 one-off Test against Ireland at Mirpur. But it has been learnt that owing to Bangladesh’s tight international schedule and his family commitments, Shakib wanted to excuse himself from this year’s IPL. The KKR management is understood to have agreed.

A source in the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said: “His family commitments aside, the international schedule was one major reason as our Board is very particular about the players’ participation on overseas tours.

Virat Kohli on arrival at the Calcutta airport on Monday PTI picture

“Following the Ireland Test, Bangladesh will travel to England early next month for three ODIs (against Ireland), which is also a part of the World Cup Super League. For that tour, the players will have to join the national squad by May 3 or 4.

“So, had Shakib joined KKR, he would have been able to spend only a few weeks in the IPL. Besides, there was no guarantee that he would be selected in all the matches during that phase.”

Bangladesh’s itinerary raises uncertainty over Litton’s participation as well although the Knights remain confident about the keeper-batsman’s availability.

Afghanistan spinner all-rounder Mohammad Nabi and Sri Lanka white-ball skipper Dasun Shanaka are among those being considered as Shakib’s like-for-like replacement.