Agency :
Bangladesh cricket icon Shakib Al Hasan has received solid backing from Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud, who shared his personal hope that the all-rounder would play his final Test match in Bangladesh.
Shakib announced his intention to retire from Test cricket on September 26, a day before the match against India in Kanpur, where he also expressed his desire to end his Test career at home, in Mirpur, during Bangladesh’s series against South Africa.
“He (Shakib) is a player who has contributed a lot to the country. Since he wishes to play his final Test match in Bangladesh, I personally hope he gets that opportunity,” Asif Mahmud told reporters in Sharjah on Thursday, while attending the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup clash between Bangladesh and Scotland.
However, Shakib, a former MP, raised concerns about his safety in the country, following accusations of involvement in a murder case last month. During the Kanpur press conference, he voiced his worries.
In response, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Faruque Ahmed stated that the BCB could not ensure Shakib’s security, as it was a matter for the government.
The Women’s T20 World Cup kicked off on 3rd October, with Bangladesh playing their first match on the opening day. Asif Mahmud was present at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium to watch the Bangladesh women’s match. Speaking to local media afterward about Shakib’s security, he said, “Look, we will certainly provide the highest level of security for our player. Any allegations are legal matters, which are separate. I cannot comment on that; the Ministry of Law has provided clarity on that issue.”
The sports adviser confirmed that Shakib’s security would be ensured. Asif Mahmud expressed his desire to see Shakib end his Test career on home soil, stating, “We have already mentioned Shakib Al Hasan’s security, and we will ensure that. Personally, I also hope that a player like him, who has achieved so much for the country, gets his farewell in Bangladesh, as he wants to end his Test career here. That is my hope as well.”
After watching the first match, Asif Mahmud shared his optimism about the women’s team in the World Cup. He asserted that the women’s cricket team would no longer be neglected, adding, “The fact that the women’s team will no longer be overlooked can be understood by my presence here.
The women’s team, comparatively, has achieved more, and we are hopeful that they will bring a good result for the country in this World Cup. In the coming days, we will ensure that they receive the recognition they deserve, and that complaints of neglect do not arise. After watching today’s match, I am optimistic about the success of the Bangladesh women’s cricket team.”
Although the World Cup has moved to the UAE, Bangladesh remains the official host of the tournament. Asif Mahmud explained that his visit was primarily to inspect the event as a host. During his trip, he toured the ICC Academy grounds in Dubai and evaluated the cricket infrastructure, with plans to use the insights to improve Bangladesh’s cricket facilities.
The sports adviser commented, “This World Cup was originally supposed to be held in Bangladesh, but we could not due to special circumstances. However, Bangladesh is still the host. As the host, my visit is for inspection purposes. I also visited the ICC Academy ground here and observed the sports infrastructure. The main purpose of my visit is to learn how we can adopt this infrastructure in Bangladesh and improve our own sports facilities.”
