Bangladesh cricket is in a new trouble and this time the storm is over the possible return of Shakib Al Hasan to the national team. Tamim Iqbal has expressed surprise at the sudden soft attitude of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) towards the experienced all-rounder.
Tamim Iqbal questions BCB’s sudden soft stance on Shakib Al Hasan
The former Bangladesh captain said the move should be honest and not just a quick whitewash after the T20 World Cup 2026 drama. Tamim made it clear that Shakib’s return should happen only when the decision is clean and taken for the betterment of Bangladesh cricket.
He believes that both the Bangladesh government and the BCB should be completely clear before bringing Shakib back into the national team, saying that such decisions should not be taken just to please the fans or ease the public’s anger, as Shakib’s contribution to Bangladesh cricket cannot be taken casually.
Also read: ICC announces new ban on Bangladesh cricket after T20 World Cup boycott
India Today quoted Tamim Iqbal as saying, “If the government gives the green signal, then it’s fine. If they feel he is still capable of playing, then you let him play. But if you are saying this just to show off, then don’t do it. Because I believe he deserves respect.”
Timing of Shakib Al Hasan’s return raises serious doubts over BCB’s intentions
Shakib has been away from the Bangladesh cricket team for over a year and has reportedly been out of the country for almost 18 months due to the political storm. That’s why BCB’s sudden announcement that he could play again took many by surprise.
The timing has raised even more questions. BCB media committee chairman Amjad Hussain confirmed Shakib’s possible return on the same day Bangladesh lost their place in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 and Scotland were named as replacements.
Many believe the board is trying to divert attention from the embarrassment. The point of confusion is that the stance of the Bangladesh Cricket Board has clearly changed. Earlier, officials had said that Shakib has no chance unless he apologizes and shows remorse.
Now, the same officials have said that the former captain and top all-rounder is free to play when he is fit. This sharp U-turn has left fans wondering whether it is really about cricket or just damage control.
Politics, court cases and comeback hopes: Shakib Al Hasan’s story
Meanwhile, Shakib, who is one of the rare cricketers who was the number one ranked all-rounder in all three formats at the same time, has not returned to Bangladesh since August 2024 after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government. At that time he was playing in a T20 league in Canada.
Also read: ICC breaks silence on banning Bangladesh cricket amid T20 World Cup 2026 controversy
As a former Awami League MP, the former Bangladesh captain feared public anger and received no clear security assurances from the interim government. Because of this, he moved to the United States and stayed away from the international game, where he had already scored over 14,000 runs and taken over 700 wickets across all formats of the game.
His problems did not stop here. Shakib was also named in a murder case related to police action during the 2024 protests. In January 2025, a court also issued an arrest warrant against him over bounced checks worth more than US$300,000 related to his agricultural farming business.
In March last year, the court had ordered confiscation of his property. The situation became worse in September 2025 when he wished former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her birthday. After this, Asif Nazrul, sports advisor to the interim government, said that Shakib would never play for Bangladesh again. Then this week came a shocking twist when the BCB said that if he is fit and available, his name can be considered for selection in the home and away series.