Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan, the world's leading all-rounder, 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.
Shakib, 30, will sit out two Test matches during the upcoming tour of South Africa after asking his board for a six-month break from Tests. He will however be available for the three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 games during his country's first tour of South Africa since 2008.
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"I get surprised when people ask me why I don't take a break from one-day or Twenty20 internationals or from the foreign T20 league," he said. "When I play foreign T20 leagues I feel hardly any pressure. For me they are a kind of holiday. Of course, they give me some experience. The financial side is also important.
"But in Test matches, 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 100 per cent."
Shakib is a regular at franchise-based Twenty20 tournaments around the world, and earned $712,000 (Dh2.62 million) from four Twenty20 competitions in 2016, according to Bangladesh's Daily Star.
He has played every Test for Bangladesh since missing two games against the West Indies in 2014 because of a suspension. His request for the Test break came amid concerns over player fatigue, as well as criticism that players are prioritising earnings over representing their countries.
"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 can play now if I wish, but 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.
"I don't want to play just for the sake of playing. That is why, I think if I get this break, I can refresh myself, more mentally than physically, and play five or six years without any tension."
"If I go to South Africa after two Test matches, I will get a break of about a month. I haven't got this kind of a break in the last three or four years," he said.
Shakib starred in Bangladesh's maiden Test win over Australia last month, claiming 10 wickets in the match and scoring 84 in one innings.
