Dhaka, April 11 -- Habibul Bashar, chief selector of the Bangladesh men's cricket team, has reiterated his desire to see Shakib Al Hasan return to national duty for an extended period

On Saturday, Bashar said discussions with the all-rounder are ongoing but hinges on his availability.

Speaking at a press conference in Dhaka, Bashar said he had been in contact with Shakib to assess his readiness, fitness and match involvement, as Bangladesh named their squad for the opening two ODIs of the home series against New Zealand.

"I have spoken to him once or twice," Bashar said. "My main concern was whether he is ready and whether he is playing regularly. There are not enough opportunities for him to train there [in the United States]."

Accor...