It Is Impossible To Continue Playing In All Three Formats- Shakib Al Hasan Contemplating His Future In Test Cricket

Ace Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan admitted that it is becoming increasingly difficult for him to feature in all three formats of international cricket, especially in the context of the pandemic-enforced quarantine restrictions as well as his young family.

The left-handed cricketer is widely regarded as the best that Bangladesh has produced and at the age of 34 years, Shakib has revealed that he is contemplating his future in Test cricket going forward. He has played 59 Tests, 215 ODIs, and 94 T20Is for Bangladesh since making his debut in 2006.

He has 4029 runs and 215 wickets in Tests, 6600 runs and 277 wickets in ODIs, and 1894 runs and 117 wickets in T20Is thus far. He has also captained the Bangladeshi team in multiple stints in his career.

”I know what [format] is important for me and I know what [format] should get the preference. Right now time has come when I am thinking about Test cricket and whether I will play Tests again or even if I play, how will I play.

When you play two Tests in 40 to 42 days, it cannot be fruitful so certainly it encourages playing selective matches. I am not saying that I will retire from Test but it can happen that I am not playing T20s after the 2022 World Cup and at that point I might play one-day and Test. But continuing three formats together is almost close to impossible,” Shakib was quoted as saying to a private TV channel NTV.

Shakib Al Hasan recently opted out of the upcoming Two-match Test series against New Zealand for personal reasons

‘Remaining In Quarantine Is Like Staying In Jail. Have To Talk With BCB About My Future’- Shakib Al Hasan

The 34-year-old said that he needs to sit down with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials and have a chat about his future in international cricket and also added that life in bio-bubbles has taken a toll on him physically and mentally.

”I have to plan well about it with BCB and after doing that moving forward would be an intelligent move. So if I can plan by January I will know what is happening for the whole year.

Remaining in quarantine is like staying in jail, but in jail at least you can talk with someone. It’s not like players roam around a lot like going out in shopping mall or in cinema hall but when you know mentally that you cannot move, the problem starts there,” Shakib said.

”Look New Zealand did not send their team to the Under-19 World Cup considering mental health. What I feel is that corona is not going away quickly and we have to live with it. So we have to find some other way. Probably quarantine or bio bubble is not the best solution,” he added.

Shakib also spoke about the effect of spending prolonged time away from his three children and wife, with whom he lives in the USA.

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