Shakib Al Hasan, who lives out of country after the fall of his political party Awami League from the government facing a mass uprising last year, has said he remains hopeful of playing for Bangladesh again and wants to end his international career with a full series on home soil across all three formats.
Many observers believe Shakib’s international career for Bangladesh effectively ended after he last played during the team’s tour of India in 2024. Following the political changes later that year, the former Bangladesh captain has remained outside the country.
Shakib was a member of parliament after Awani League won an election early last year. The election was boycotted by major political parties. In July- August last year, a mass uprising ousted Sheikh Hasina-led government after she brutally superseded an earlier students-movement demanding a fair system for government job.
Speaking on the YouTube podcast Beard Before Wicket, Shakib said his plan is clear. “My plan is to return to Bangladesh and retire after playing a full series — one-day internationals, Tests and T20Is,” he said. “I want to say goodbye to all three formats in a single series. It could be T20Is first, then ODIs and Tests, or in any order. I have no issue with that,” he added
Shakib had earlier announced before the Kanpur Test in September last year that he would no longer play international T20Is. He had also hoped to play his final Test at home against South Africa in October, but protests and clashes near the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka preceded that series.
After later apologising for his silence during the July–August student-led uprising, Shakib was not included in the squad for the South Africa Tests. However, despite the apologies, Shakib later said what he had done during the protest was right. Now, again, the star all-rounder expressed his hope to play for Bangladesh. Since the India tour in 2024, he has not featured for the national team but has continued to play regularly in overseas franchise leagues.
He is currently playing in the International League T20 in the United Arab Emirates for MI Emirates. Shakib said he is still playing because of his dream to return. “This is the dream. That is why I am still playing,” he said. He added that a farewell at home would be for the supporters. “They have always stood by me. I want to close this chapter by playing a full series in front of them on home soil.”
But the current political reality that emerged after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s fifteen-year rule in Bangladesh, which analysts say was authoritative, now casts serious doubt on whether that “dream” can be fulfilled.