Shakib Al Hasan, one of Bangladesh’s greatest cricketers, had wished to bid farewell to Test cricket with a match against South Africa at the Home of Cricket. However, expectations and reality don’t always align.
The former captain couldn’t play in that match at Mirpur due to political controversies. Now, his future in ODI cricket also appears uncertain. Discussions with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) failed to yield a satisfactory resolution, raising the possibility that Shakib may no longer be seen representing Bangladesh.
Despite being included in the preliminary squad against South Africa, Shakib ultimately didn’t take the field. He also missed the ODI series against Afghanistan in the UAE and was excluded from the Test squad for the West Indies tour. This absence fueled speculation about his participation in the ODI series. Amid this uncertainty, all of Shakib and his wife Shishir’s bank accounts were frozen by the Bangladesh Bank.
According to media reports citing a senior BCB official, Shakib requested the board’s help to normalize his financial transactions and facilitate his return to domestic cricket. However, the BCB clarified that these matters were beyond their control.
The BCB’s refusal to meet Shakib’s conditions reportedly means he will not appear in the colored jersey during the West Indies tour. This casts further doubt on his participation in the upcoming Champions Trophy. Whether Shakib’s international career continues may ultimately depend on his own decisions, and fans are now waiting for him to reveal his next steps.
