‘I am officially not retired from all formats’ – Shakib Al Hasan reverses retirement to play one last series

Former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has announced that he is reversing his retirement from Test and T20I cricket, stating his intention to play in all three formats. Shakib had been out of international cricket for over a year and had previously retired from Tests and T20Is last year.

Shakib has not returned to Bangladesh since May 2024, following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, a party for which he had served as a Member of Parliament. He was also named in an FIR in connection with an alleged murder case, although he was not in the country at the time. Afterward, he participated in Test series in Pakistan and India, with the second Test against India in Kanpur marking his last international appearance.

“I am officially not retired from all formats. This is the first time I’ll be revealing that. My plan is to go back to Bangladesh, play one full series of ODI, Test, and T20, and retire. I mean, [I can] retire from all formats in a series. So it can start from T20I, ODI and Test, or Test, ODI, T20I. Either way, I’m fine, but I want to play a whole series and retire. That’s what I want,” said Shakib on the Beard Before Wicket podcast.

Shakib further stated that he will not be burdened by results and is focused on giving back to the fans for their years of support, particularly in a home series. He also shared his reflections on returning to Bangladesh.

“I am hopeful. That’s why I’m playing [T20 leagues]. I think it will happen. I think when a player says something, they try to stick to their words. They normally don’t change it all of a sudden. It doesn’t matter if I play well or not. I might play a bad series after that, if I want to play. But I don’t need to do that. I think this is enough. It’s just a nicer way to say bye to the fans that have supported me always, give something back to them, playing a home series,” said Shakib.

Ahead of the Kanpur Test in September last year, Shakib announced that he would no longer play T20Is, while expressing his desire to play his final Test during the home series against South Africa scheduled for October. The lead-up to the series saw protests and clashes around the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, following which Shakib issued an apology for his earlier silence during the student-led demonstrations.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) subsequently dropped Shakib from the Test squad, citing concerns over the interim government’s inability to guarantee his safe exit from the country. Earlier this year, a BCB official had stated that Shakib was welcome to return to the national team. However, in September, Bangladesh’s sports adviser, Asif Mahmud, declared that Shakib would not be allowed to represent the country after he publicly wished former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her birthday.

Shakib, who was elected as an MP from his hometown of Magura in January 2024, also indicated that he was not finished with his political career when asked about the legacy he wishes to leave behind.

“[I have] done my cricketing part. Maybe the political side is left. It’s something I want to do for the people of Bangladesh and people of Magura. That was my intention, and it is still my intention. Let’s see where Allah takes me,” said Shakib.