Shakib Al Hasan had already retired from T20s and stepped away from Test cricket amid various dramas. Now, he has distanced himself from ODIs, putting the national team jersey on “rest,” as per reports.
Although there hasn’t been an official announcement, his absence from the Mirpur Test raises the possibility that Shakib’s international cricket career might be coming to an end. For now, it’s uncertain, but it’s almost certain that Shakib won’t be returning to the national team anytime soon.
At least, Shakib Al Hasan won’t be part of the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan. Although there had been speculation earlier, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has now confirmed this.
On Thursday, BCB President Faruque Ahmed confirmed the news. Currently, he is in Chattogram, where he traveled to discuss captaincy issues with Najmul Hossain Shanto. Speaking to the media, he stated, “Shakib will miss this series.”
Before the Kanpur Test during the India tour, Shakib had announced his retirement from Tests and T20s. Although he stepped away from two formats, he hadn’t withdrawn from ODIs, expressing a desire to play until the Champions Trophy.
However, considering recent events, Shakib has decided to withdraw himself from the upcoming Afghanistan series.
In this regard, Faruque commented, “I think he needs some time. The decision hasn’t been finalized yet, but it seems highly unlikely he’ll play in the upcoming series.”
He added, “I’m not saying he won’t play, but I think he won’t. It’s entirely up to his mental state. There’s also a T10 tournament coming up, although we haven’t given him permission yet. I still believe Shakib can play for Bangladesh, at least in the 50-over format.”
According to Faruque, Shakib was included in the squad for the first Test in Mirpur. However, due to security concerns amid protests against him, he couldn’t return to the country, leading to his exclusion from the squad. This situation reportedly impacted Shakib mentally.
He concluded, “It’s only natural; he’s human. No matter how strong-minded he is, missing the last Test would have left him feeling upset.”
