Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Faruque Ahmed has said that star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan may play his final Test match at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur against South Africa, reports UNB.
The question of Shakib’s homecoming has been shrouded in uncertainty. Before the final Test against India in Kanpur, Shakib announced his retirement from Test cricket and expressed his wish to play his last match in Mirpur.
However, Shakib’s political affiliation raised concerns about his safety, making his return seem unlikely. The BCB President said that the board could not provide personal security for Shakib, adding that any such measure would need to be managed by the government.
Doubts surrounding Shakib's return were further fueled when Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, sports adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, said that Shakib would receive the same security afforded to all players. He noted, however, that if there is public hostility, providing beefed-up security becomes challenging.
Yet, Shakib's prospects received a boost when the sports adviser, during a visit to the UAE for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, expressed support for Shakib’s wish to retire at home, recognizing his contributions to Bangladesh cricket.
Faruque Ahmed mentioned that he remains in regular contact with Shakib and expressed optimism about his return for a final Test in front of a home crowd.
“There’s a good possibility that Shakib will return for his last Test,” Faruque said to the media after a meeting with his BCB colleagues. “As board president, my powers are limited here. Shakib’s situation is ultimately a matter for the government, involving law enforcement and high-level advisers, including the Chief Adviser, to decide.”
The BCB President assured that the board would arrange security for Shakib within stadium areas but clarified that they could not extend this coverage outside stadium premises.
When announcing his retirement, Shakib had requested security assurances both while in Bangladesh and during his departure, reflecting concerns that he might face obstacles when leaving the country.
These concerns stem from a murder case filed in the wake of the July-August student-led movement that led to the ousting of Sheikh Hasina’s government. Shakib had been a member of parliament, elected in the 2024 elections, which were boycotted by opposition parties citing an uneven playing field under the then-regime.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
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