The upcoming season of the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) is set to begin on March 3. The player registration process for team transfers started today (Saturday) and will continue for two days, ending on Sunday. Shakib Al Hasan has signed with Legends of Rupganj for this DPL season.
However, uncertainty looms over whether Shakib will be able to participate. Since the political upheaval on August 5, the former Bangladesh captain has been abroad. He was unable to play his last home Test match and also missed the recent BPL.
Shakib is currently facing legal issues, including a murder case and a fraud case, for which an arrest warrant has been issued against him. Given the situation, his return to Bangladesh remains uncertain.
When asked whether Shakib would return to play in the DPL, Legends of Rupganj owner Lutfor Rahman Badal stated, “Let me be clear—we didn’t take Shakib the politician, we took Shakib the cricketer. Shakib is a national asset, and we don’t want to see his talent go to waste. He has been associated with me since the beginning of his career, and I hope he will continue to be. I want to reshape our cricket in a new way.”
Additionally, Shakib is currently under a bowling ban. Regarding this, the Rupganj owner added, “He will go to England during Ramadan for a third (bowling) test. He has also hired a coach for this purpose. If he gets approval, Shakib will take the test, and if he passes, we hope he will be able to play in Bangladesh.”
