Shakib Al Hasan may return to the national team

Yesterday, after an eight-hour BCB meeting, it was announced at a press conference that Shakib Al Hasan will now be considered for playing for the national team both at home and abroad.

Shakib Al Hasan may return to the national team

Amjad Hossain, head of the BCB media committee, said at the press conference, “If Shakib Al Hasan’s availability, fitness and accessibility; along with the ability to be present at the venue where the game will be played, the board or selection panel will definitely consider Shakib Al Hasan for selection in the team at a later date.”

It was announced at the press conference that Shakib himself is also interested in playing for the national team. Amjad Hossain said, “We have discussed with him whether he wants to play in both home and away series or not? Is he available for both? He said yes. The decision was made after discussing with him. He may have made the decision knowingly.’

In January 2024, Shakib was elected as a member of parliament from the Magura-1 constituency on the Awami League’s nomination. After the Awami League government fell in the student-public uprising in July-August of that year, he was unable to return home. Shakib last played for the country in Kanpur, India, in September 2024.

Shakib decided to retire from Test cricket after playing the Test against South Africa in Mirpur the following month. But even though the team was announced to keep him, Shakib did not return home in the face of protests. There were also protests in Mirpur demanding that he not be played due to his Awami League affiliation.

When asked whether Shakib’s political identity would be an obstacle this time too, what Amjad Hossain said was of course a bit confusing, ‘The government will look at his political identity. If the government wants him to be a criminal or if he has to be tried, that is not the BCB’s issue.’

But if the government does not want him, then Shakib cannot play either; Then the situation will remain as it was for so long! The BCB has not given a clear explanation in this regard.

After August 5, 2024, several cases have been filed against Shakib, including a murder case. For these reasons, it was difficult for Shakib to return to the country for so long. But how will he return now? Won’t he be arrested if he returns to the country?

The head of the BCB’s media committee did not give a specific answer to these questions either. However, he said, “Our president has already been told to contact the government in this regard.”

Amjad later said, “Shakib’s personal issues are his own. How the government will look at them is a matter for the government. But we, on behalf of the board, have asked for Shakib, that’s the main thing.”

Amjad said that the BCB has decided to consider 27 new cricketers in this year’s central contract at the board meeting. Before this decision, there was a discussion about who will be considered for the national team and who will not. That’s when Shakib’s name came up in context.

Two other BCB directors, Abdur Razzak and Asif Akbar, were present at the press conference. In response to a question about his political identity, Asif Akbar said, “Whether Shakib is a fallen fascist or a former member of parliament, this is not our concern. We want Shakib as a player.”

The question of whether the sudden decision to consider Shakib for the national team was made to hide the ongoing controversy over Bangladesh’s absence from the T20 World Cup was also raised at the press conference. However, BCB media committee chief Amjad claimed that this was not the case. He said that the board had asked Shakib many times before to include him in the team but he was not accepted. Asif Akbar said that the issue will be discussed in the next BCB meeting.

Despite not being able to play for the national team, Shakib has played in various foreign franchise leagues in the last one and a half years. He is currently playing in a tournament in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Ishtiaq Sadeq has resigned from the post of BCB director. The BCB said after the board meeting that he took this decision for personal reasons.