Shakib’s home ground farewell dream faces uncertainty

Star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan’s desire to say goodbye to his Test career at his home ground may not materialize.

According to media sources, the celebrated cricketer announced his retirement from international cricket just ahead of the Kanpur Test. Nevertheless, he intends to continue representing the team in One Day Internationals (ODIs).

The upcoming Champions Trophy in Pakistan will be his final ODI tournament, after which he is projected to retire from international cricket by March 2025.

On September 26, a four-hour meeting was conducted under the leadership of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Faruk Ahmed, where Shakib Al Hasan’s future was a key topic of discussion.

The board stated that, due to the prevailing political tensions, they cannot guarantee that Shakib will play his last Test match at home because of security issues. Shakib will have to decide his own path regarding his future, as the board cannot ensure safety. It is possible that his final Test against India may be his last match overall.

Moreover, the Bangladeshi all-rounder is currently facing one of the toughest times in his career, as he is involved in a case concerning allegations of fraud and murder.

It is noteworthy that Shakib Al Hasan, who is associated with the party of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is confronting murder charges in Bangladesh and has not returned to the country since the ousting of Hasina Wazed.