Veteran Bangladesh all-rounder has decided to plan his final stage of his international career having announced his shock retirement on the eve of the second Test against India in Kanpur on Thursday, September 26. Shakib confirmed that he has already played his last T20I match for Bangladesh, which was the T20 World Cup 2024 clash against Afghanistan in June, while mentioning that he wants to call off from Tests after the South Africa series at home next month, provided he is selected.
"I think I have played my last T20I match. I’ve informed the BCB about my wish to end my Test career in Mirpur, and they’ve agreed in principle. They’re working on making that possible," Shakib told the reporters on the eve of the Kanpur Test. However, the announcement regarding Test matches is conditional as Shakib has expressed his desire for free passage in and out of the country. "If things don’t work out, then this match against India will be my last Test," Shakib added.
If Shakib is able to play the Mirpur Test, that will be his last otherwise the Kanpur Test due to begin on Friday, September 27 against India will be the all-rounder's swansong in whites for Bangladesh. Shakib was named alongside 147 others in a murder case last month in Dhaka.
However, Shahriar Nafees, in charge of BCB's cricket operations has assured that there will be no harassment in Shakib's case and if selected, he should be able to play at home.
"There is a clear message from the Bangladesh government that no one will be harassed unfairly in the cases that have been filed. We believe the interim government has made its position very clear on Shakib. Unless there is an injury problem or a selection-related issue, I personally don't see any reason as of now why Shakib Al Hasan should not play in Bangladesh in the home series," Nafees said a couple of days ago.
Interestingly, Shakib was playing in the Global T20 League when the chargesheet was made public. After that he went to Pakistan to play a couple of Tests, followed by a County match in the UK for Surrey. From UK, Shakib travelled straight to India to participate in the ongoing two-match Test series.
Shakib didn't have a particularly great T20 World Cup where he scored just 111 runs in seven innings including an unbeaten 64 against the Netherlands. In six bowling innings, Shakib went wicketless in four matches while dismissing just three batsmen after his side advanced to the Super Eight stage.
