Shakib Al Hasan’s Mirpur swansong still appears uncertain. This is despite Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Faruque Ahmed exuding confidence that the all-rounder would be able to play his farewell Test in front of his home crowd. Bangladesh will play a two-Test series against South Africa at home later this month. The first Test at Mirpur starts from October 21, which Shakib wants to be his last, if he is allowed to go back to his country.
Back in Bangladesh, Shakib reportedly has been named among 147 individuals accused in a murder case related to the August protests in the country. And according to a BCB insider, unless the case is withdrawn, there remains a question mark over his participation in the Test series against South Africa. “He (Shakib) needs assurance about not facing any problem when he leaves the country,” the BCB functionary told RevSportz. “It’s the government’s decision. Let’s see what happens.”
A Bangladesh national team selector told RevSportz that the selection committee will keep options open. “We have a camp, and after that, we will pick the squad likely on October 17,” said the selector, on condition of anonymity. “If Shakib is available, he will be in the squad. Else, we have to pick an extra batter, for it’s not easy to identify a like-for-like replacement for Shakib.”
The 37-year-old is unarguably Bangladesh’s greatest-ever cricketer with 14,730 international runs and 712 wickets. In Test cricket alone, he has 4,609 runs, including five hundreds, and 246 wickets from 71 matches.
Earlier, Ahmed spoke about keeping in touch with Shakib on the issue. “I have had contacts with Shakib,” the BCB president told reporters. “He has a good chance of retiring from the field in Bangladesh.”
At the same time, he stated: “Shakib’s issue has to be dealt by the government. There is the government, law enforcement agencies, advisers — they will take a decision over his issue. We can only take responsibility for his training and playing inside the stadium and at the indoor facilities.”
This came on the heels of the Bangladesh government’s sports adviser Asif Mahmud’s comment that they would like to see Shakib retire in front of his home fans.
Last month, before the second Test between India and Bangladesh in Kanpur, Shakib had announced his Test retirement, saying that he would like to play his last Test at Mirpur. “If there is an opportunity for me to go back to my country, the Mirpur Test will be my last in Test cricket,” he had said.
But he mentioned the security issue. “This has been communicated to the board (BCB) and they are trying to make the best arrangements so that I can play, and feel secure. At the same time, I shouldn’t have any problem when I have to leave the country.”
Shakib has gone back to his family in the United States after the India series.