DHAKA: Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan on Tuesday defended his decision to play in limited-overs games while skipping Test cricket, saying he needs a break from the longest format to extend his career.

He will sit out two Tests during the upcoming tour of South Africa after asking his board for a six-month break from Tests.

“I get surprised when people ask me why I don’t take a break from one-day or T20 Internationals or from the foreign T20 league,” he told reporters. “When I play foreign T20 leagues I feel hardly any pressure. They give me some experience. Financial side is also important.

“But in Test match, I have to bat and bowl and contribute in all four innings. The team also expects me to do that. It’s not good if I cannot give my hundred per cent.”

Shakib said the break from Test cricket would help him prolong his career.

“The biggest reason is I think I have still plenty of cricket left,” Shakib said. “If I want to play that amount of cricket and play it well, I think this break is essential for me.

“I have to decide whether I want play five to six more years or just one to two years. I personally feel if I continue this way, I would not be able to play more than one or two years.”

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2017