Former Bangladesh cricket captain Shakib Al Hasan has declared that he will retire from international cricket by March of next year. This announcement comes as he faces serious legal issues at home, including murder charges linked to his association with the former government of Sheikh Hasina.
The 37-year-old cricketer has not returned to Bangladesh since the recent student-led revolution that resulted in the overthrow of Hasina’s administration. ’
Shakib stated that he intends for the upcoming Champions Trophy in Pakistan to be his final international appearance.
Despite his situation, Shakib expressed a desire to participate in a planned two-Test series against South Africa.
He has communicated this wish to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), which is reportedly trying to facilitate his return for those matches.
“It’s my desire… They agreed with me, that they are trying to organise everything if possible,” he told reporters ahead of the second Test against India in Kanpur.
The series against South Africa, set to commence on October 21, is uncertain, as the Proteas are evaluating the safety of traveling to Bangladesh post-revolution. Shakib has already concluded his T20 career, playing his last match during the World Cup in June.
He confirmed, “This is the right time for me to move on and BCB will look into some new players,” adding that he has eight remaining ODI matches, with the Champions Trophy marking his final outing in that format.
Shakib has been a pivotal figure in propelling Bangladesh into the international cricket spotlight, known for both his outstanding performances and controversies. He is the only player to have held the top spot in the ICC all-rounder rankings across all three formats simultaneously.
With a career spanning since 2006, Shakib has played 70 Tests, 247 ODIs, and 129 T20 matches, and recently contributed to Bangladesh’s historic Test series win in Pakistan.
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