Former Bangladesh cricket captain Shakib Al Hasan has revealed his plans to retire from international cricket by March of next year. This decision comes amid serious legal troubles he faces at home, including murder charges related to his connection with the former government led by Sheikh Hasina.
At 37, Shakib has not returned to Bangladesh following the recent student-led uprising that resulted in the ousting of Hasina’s regime. He stated that he aims to make his final international appearance during the upcoming Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
Despite the challenges, Shakib has expressed a desire to play in a two-Test series against South Africa. He has communicated this intention to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), which is reportedly working to facilitate his return for those matches.
“It’s my desire… They agreed with me, and they are trying to organize everything if possible,” he shared with reporters ahead of the second Test against India in Kanpur.
The series against South Africa is scheduled to start on October 21, but its status remains uncertain as the Proteas are assessing the safety of traveling to Bangladesh in the wake of the political upheaval. Shakib has already concluded his T20 career, having played his last match during the World Cup in June.
“I believe this is the right time for me to move on, and the BCB will begin looking into new players,” he stated, noting that he has eight ODIs left, with the Champions Trophy serving as his final outing in that format.
Shakib has been instrumental in bringing Bangladesh into the global cricket spotlight, known for both his remarkable performances and controversies. He is the only player to have simultaneously held the top spot in the ICC all-rounder rankings across all three formats.
Since making his debut in 2006, Shakib has participated in 70 Tests, 247 ODIs, and 129 T20 matches, recently playing a key role in Bangladesh’s historic Test series victory in Pakistan.
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