Shakib Al Hasan cancels his retirement, announces return to all formats in shocking U-turn
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Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has reversed his international retirement, announcing his return to Test and T20I Cricket. The veteran cricketer has not played a single international match in over a year, after announcing his retirement from Tests and T20Is last year.
Recently, politics and worldly matters have taken a toll on several players from across several participating nations. Bangladesh has been one such nation, and the political tensions and unrest within the nation have affected its cricketers, who have had certain political orientations.
Shakib Al Hasan reverses his international retirement to return for all formats
Shakib Al Hasan, the former Bangladesh captain, has come out of his international retirement and wishes to participate across all formats of the game. He has revealed that he wishes to play a complete series before he announces retirement from international cricket.
"I am officially not retired from all formats," Shakib said on the Beard Before Wicket podcast, which features Moeen Ali, on Sunday. "This is the first time I'll be revealing that. My plan is to go back to Bangladesh, play one full series of ODI, Test, and T20, and retire.
"I mean, [I can] retire from all formats in a series. So it can start from T20I, ODI and Test, or Test, ODI, T20I. Either way, I'm fine, but I want to play a whole series and retire. That's what I want," Shakib Al Hasan added.
Shakib Al Hasan was then asked if he would be picked to play for Bangladesh after he was snubbed for the last year. Earlier, Shakib was welcomed to play for Bangladesh, but the sports adviser Asif Mahmud declared that Shakib would not be allowed to play for the country after he wished former PM Sheikh Hasina on her birthday.
"I am hopeful. That's why I'm playing [T20 leagues]. I think it will happen," Shakib answered.
Let's see where Allah takes me - Shakib Al Hasan
The veteran all-rounder hasn't returned to his own country since May 2024, after the Awami League government was dissolved on the 5th of August. Shakib was an MP for that party.
He was also named in an FIR for 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.
Shakib then added that he was not even done with his political career, and hinted at reviving it after announcing his retirement. He also mentioned working for the people of his nation.
"[I have] done my cricketing part. Maybe the political side is left," he said. "It's something I want to do for the people of Bangladesh and the people of Magura. That was my intention, and it is still my intention. Let's see where Allah takes me."
It's just a nicer way to say bye to the fans - Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan had further informed that he will not be burdened by results anymore, and he wants to play only because he wants to give something back to his fans who kept faith in his abilities and backed him over the rough patches in his career. He seemed content with the support received throughout a career full of ups and downs.
"I think when a player says something, they try to stick to their words," he said. "They normally don't change it all of a sudden. It doesn't matter if I play well or not. I might play a bad series after that, if I want to play. But I don't need to do that.
"I think this is enough. It's just a nicer way to say bye to the fans that they supported me always, give something back to them, playing a home series," he concluded.
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