Shakib Al Hasan opts out of IPL 2023 Due to Availability issues.

Exciting news has emerged from the world of cricket as Shakib Al Hasan, the dynamic all-rounder from Bangladesh, has decided to withdraw from IPL 2023. The Kolkata Knight Riders received the news from Shakib on Sunday that he would be unable to participate due to international commitments with his national team and some personal reasons.

Shakib, along with Litton Das, had missed KKR’s first match of the season against the Punjab Kings as they were playing in a T20I series against Ireland. Both players are also set to feature in a one-off Test match against Ireland, which begins today. Bangladesh is also scheduled to tour the UK, where they will play three ODIs against Ireland in Chelmsford on May 9, 12, and 14.

It’s understood that Shakib’s busy schedule with the Bangladesh team during this period and his personal commitments left him with no choice but to withdraw from IPL 2023. The KKR franchise is now looking for a suitable replacement player once they receive approval from the IPL.

This news puts the spotlight on Litton Das, who was also signed by Knight Riders in December. He will be part of the same two series Shakib is involved in, but at present remains part of the Knight Riders squad. It remains to be seen if Das, too, will opt-out of IPL 2023.

Prior to the auction, the Bangladesh Cricket Board had notified the IPL of the “restricted accessibility” of its players. In a statement made on March 18, the Knight Riders revealed that Shakib would be joining their team following the third T20I match against Ireland on March 31st, while Litton would be arriving after the conclusion of the one-off Test match on April 8th.

The Knight Riders are already facing challenges with player availability, as their captain Shreyas Iyer has been sidelined for at least the initial half of the season due to a back injury.

The team had a disappointing start to the season, losing their first match to the Punjab Kings in a rain-affected contest in Mohali. They are looking to bounce back in their next game, which is against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in Kolkata on Thursday.

So, it’s a bit of a blow for the Knight Riders to lose Shakib Al Hasan, but there’s still plenty of excitement to come in IPL 2023. We’ll have to wait and see who the franchise selects as a replacement player, and how the team will perform in the weeks ahead.