BANGLADESH CRICKET
Shakib Al Hasan has recently endured an underwhelming phase in Tests © Sportzpics
Shakib al Hasan on Thursday announced that he has expressed to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) his desire to retire from Test cricket at the end of next month’s home series against South Africa in Mirpur. However, it is contingent on the ace allrounder procuring the security clearance to play in that series. In case Shakib is unable to feature in that Test, the second and final game of the ongoing series against India – due to begin in Kanpur on Friday – could be his last game in the whites for Bangladesh.
To add to this announcement, the veteran allrounder also announced his retirement from T20Is with immediate effect.
Shakib was addressing the media in Kanpur ahead of the second Test against India.
“It’s my desire (to retire). I’ve shared it with the BCB and the selectors,” Shakib told media in Kanpur on the eve of the second Test against India. “They have agreed with me. They are trying to organise everything in the best possible way so that I can go back to Bangladesh and play those two Test matches, or that match in Mirpur, and finish my Test career there. And then when we play a series abroad, I can go out of the country safely.
“To play that (as my last) match is my desire. If that doesn’t happen, then this (Kanpur Test) will be my last match.
“In T20Is, I felt I played my last match during the last game of the World Cup. We’ve discussed this with the selectors and the board. I’ve been looking at the 2026 T20 World Cup. This is the right time for me to move on and BCB will look into some new players. Hopefully, they will find some great players and we will perform well in the 2026 World Cup.”
Shakib elaborated on the security concerns: “I’m a citizen of Bangladesh, so I don’t have any problem going back to Bangladesh. But after going back to Bangladesh is where my problems start. When I’m living in Bangladesh, the safety and security is my concern. What I’m hearing from my close friends and family, they have their concerns. I hope things will get better and there’s a solution.”
More to follows…
© Cricbuzz
