Shakib Al Hasan set to return to Bangladesh despite facing murder charges; eyes 2027 World Cup

Ace Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is all set for a grand homecoming despite serious legal trouble hanging over him. The former Bangladesh captain has been living outside the country since the political storm that removed Sheikh Hasina from the prime minister's position in August 2024.

After the infamous sacking, Shakib Al Hasan, who was also a Member of Parliament from the Awami League, found himself caught in multiple legal cases, including a murder charge. Many believe his political links made his situation worse. Now, things are not becoming better.

BCB Pushes for Shakib Al Hasan’s Bangladesh Comeback

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially sent documents related to Shakib’s legal matters to the government because they want the senior all-rounder back in the national colors. Shakib last played for Bangladesh in a Test match against India in Kanpur in 2024.

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Since then, Shakib Al Hasan has not played any international cricket but has participated in the franchise leagues around the world. Now, it is being said that the cases against Shakib and former captain Mashrafe Mortaza could be handled at the state level to clear the way for their return.

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A top BCB official told Cricbuzz, "We have sent the papers of his (Shakib's) cases to the government.”

This confirmation came hours after Bangladesh ODI skipper Mehidy Hasan publicly said that he is looking forward to teaming up with Shakib Al Hasan again.

Miraz said, “Of course I would feel happy to play with him [Shakib] again. We have played together for many years. We also didn't play together for the national side in the last few years. So, if Shakib Bhai plays [in the upcoming series against Pakistan], obviously I would feel elated.”

Eyes on Pakistan Series and 2027 World Cup

The Bangladesh cricket team is set to host Pakistan next month, and the BCB is eager to see Shakib Al Hasan play at home one last time. The all-rounder himself has openly shown interest in playing a farewell bilateral series in front of home fans. But the bigger target is the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Bangladesh has already qualified for the 2028 T20 World Cup, but their ODI future is still under dark clouds. They must improve their ranking before March 31, 2027, to enter the 2027 ICC World Cup directly. Their direct qualification is under threat presently, as they have 20 to 23 ODIs left before the cut-off date.

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They will face teams like New Zealand, Australia, and India at home and travel to South Africa and Zimbabwe for these games. If they fail to climb the rankings, they will have to go through qualifiers. That risk has forced the BCB to bring back their most experienced match-winner.

Team struggling without Shakib

The numbers tell a painful story. Since Shakib has not played international cricket, Bangladesh has played 25 ODIs and won only seven, losing 17 matches with one game ending without result.

This poor record has increased pressure on Mehidy Hasan, BCB, and support staff. Inside the camp, many feel that Shakib’s experience, batting stability, and left-arm spin can still change things for them.