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Former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has decided to withdraw his retirement from Test and T20I cricket, saying he now wants to represent Bangladesh in all three formats once again. Shakib, who has been away from international cricket for more than a year, had previously announced his retirement from Tests and T20Is last year.
Speaking on the Beard Before Wicket podcast hosted by Moeen Ali, Shakib said:
“I am officially not retired from any format. This is the first time I'm confirming it. My plan is to return to Bangladesh, play one complete series in ODI, Test, and T20 formats, and then retire. I want to finish my career by playing a full home series.”
He added that he is comfortable with any order of formats for his farewell series.
Shakib has not been back in Bangladesh since May 2024, after the Awami League government was toppled on August 5. A sitting MP for the party, he was also named in an FIR in a murder case, though he was abroad at the time. Since then, he has only played Test cricket in Pakistan and India, with the Kanpur Test against India being his last international appearance.
When asked about his return to Bangladesh, Shakib said he is optimistic:
“That’s why I’m playing T20 leagues. I believe things will work out.”
He also mentioned that he is not concerned about performance anymore, and simply wishes to give fans a proper goodbye:
“Players usually stand by their words. Whether I perform well or poorly doesn’t matter at this stage. I just want to thank the fans for their support by playing one final home series.”
Before the Kanpur Test last year, Shakib had announced his withdrawal from T20Is and expressed a wish to play his last Test during the home series against South Africa. However, protests and clashes near the Shere Bangla National Stadium, along with political unrest, led to him apologizing for not speaking out during the student-led protests that resulted in many deaths. The BCB later omitted him from the South Africa Tests due to concerns about guaranteeing his safe travel.
Although a BCB official stated earlier this year that Shakib could return to the national team, the situation shifted again in September when Bangladesh’s sports adviser Asif Mahmud declared that Shakib would not be allowed to represent the country after he publicly wished former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on her birthday.
Shakib, who became an MP for Magura in January 2024, hinted that his political journey is far from over.
“I have completed my cricketing chapter. Maybe now it's time to fulfill my political responsibilities for the people of Bangladesh and Magura. That has always been my intention,” he said.
