Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has reversed his decision to retire from international cricket. The former Bangladesh skipper wishes to play all three formats on home soil, in front of his fans, before officially retiring from international cricket.
After announcing his retirement from Tests and T20Is, Shakib has not played international cricket for over a year, despite being available, due to rifts with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
Shakib has been living in exile in the United States with his family following the change of government in Bangladesh. A Member of Parliament under the previous government, he has been unable to obtain security clearance to return home.
“I am hopeful of returning to Bangladesh, and that’s why I am playing — to retire in front of a home crowd. I think it will happen, and that is the reason, the only reason, I am playing: to stay fit and in shape so that I can make myself available for international cricket,” Shakib said on the Beard Before Wicket podcast on Sunday. “I am not officially retired from all formats. This is the first time I’m revealing that.”
“My plan is to go back to Bangladesh, play one full series of ODIs, Tests and T20Is, and then retire. I mean, I can retire from all formats in a single series. So it can start with T20I, ODI and Test, or Test, ODI and T20I — either way, I’m fine. But I want to play a whole series and then retire. That’s what I want,” he added.
This announcement comes weeks after Bangladesh’s sports adviser Asif Mahmud stated in September that Shakib would not be allowed to represent the nation, effectively closing the door on his return.
Given the political divisions in the country, Shakib’s return to the international arena remains uncertain.
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