Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has overturned his international retirement by announcing his return to Test and T20 cricket. After announcing his retirement from Tests and T20Is last year, the veteran cricketer has not played a single international match in over a year.
Recently, politics and worldly matters have impacted many players from many participating countries. Bangladesh has been one such country, and political tensions and unrest within the country have affected its cricketers who have had some political leanings.
Shakib Al Hasan has withdrawn his international retirement to return to all formats
Former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan is back from his international retirement and looks to participate in all formats of the game. He has revealed that he wants to play a full series before announcing his retirement from international cricket.
“I have not officially retired from all formats,” Shakib said on the Beard Before Wicket podcast on Sunday. “This is the first time I will reveal this. My plan is to go back to Bangladesh, play a full series of ODIs, Tests and T20s and retire.
“I mean, [I can] Retire from all formats of a series. So it can start with T20I, ODI and Test or Test, ODI, T20I. Anyhow, I’m fine, but I want to play the whole series and retire. “That’s what I want,” Shakib Al Hasan said.
Shakib Al Hasan when asked if he would be selected to play for Bangladesh after being ignored last year. Earlier, Shakib was welcomed to play for Bangladesh, but sports advisor Asif Mahmood, after wishing former PM Sheikh Hasina on her birthday, announced that Shakib would not be allowed to play for the country.
“I’m hopeful. That’s why I’m playing.” [T20 leagues]I think it will happen,” Shakib replied,
Let’s see where Allah takes me – Shakib Al Hasan
The veteran all-rounder has not returned to his country since May 2024, after the dissolution of the Awami League government on August 5. Shakib was the MP of that party.
His name was also included in the FIR of an alleged murder case, although he was not in the country at that time. After that, he continued playing Tests across Pakistan and India; However, the Test against India was the last time he played international cricket.
After this, Shakib said that his political career is not complete yet and hinted at reviving it after announcing his retirement. He also mentioned working for the people of his country.
,[I have] Completed my work of playing cricket. “Maybe the political side is left,” he said, adding, “This is something I want to do for the people of Bangladesh and the people of Magura. That was my intention, and that is still my intention. Let’s see where Allah takes me.”
This is a good way to say goodbye to the fans – Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan had further stated that he will no longer be burdened by the results and he only wants to play because he wants to give something back to his fans who believed in his abilities and supported him during the difficult phase of his career. He seemed satisfied with the support he received during a career full of ups and downs.
“I think when a player says something, he tries to stick to his words,” he said. “They don’t usually change it suddenly. It doesn’t matter if I play well or not. If I want to play, I can have a bad series after that. But I don’t have to do that.”
He concluded, “I think that’s enough. It’s a good way to say goodbye to the fans that they always supported me, to give something back to them by playing a home series.”
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