Bangladesh’s cricketing icon, Shakib Al Hasan, has revealed that he is almost certain he will not return home for his farewell Test against South Africa next week, citing public backlash over his silence during ongoing protests in the country.
Once a member of parliament for the Awami League, led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whose 15-year tenure ended in August when she fled to India, Shakib, 37, recently apologized for his previous silence and urged fans to support him during his final Test at the Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Shakib has remained abroad since protests erupted in July, although the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) assured him he would not face harassment upon his return for the Test in Mirpur, scheduled to begin on Monday.
“I’m not sure where I’m going next, but it’s almost certain that I am not going home,” Shakib told ESPNcricinfo, reflecting his uncertainty amid the political turmoil.
Bangladesh’s chief selector, Gazi Ashraf Hossain, noted in a recent press conference that there had been no further updates from the BCB or the cricket operations committee regarding Shakib’s situation. “It is a paused status at the moment. He is in transit in Dubai,” Hossain added.
Regarded as the greatest cricketer in Bangladesh’s history, Shakib’s political past complicates his position during this transitional phase under an interim government. He announced his intention to retire from Test cricket in September, bringing an end to a remarkable career.
Throughout his career, Shakib has played 71 Tests, 247 One-Day Internationals, and 129 Twenty20 Internationals, accumulating an impressive 14,730 runs and claiming 712 wickets, solidifying his status as one of the leading all-rounders of his era.
