Shakib has not returned to Bangladesh since May 2024, following the August 5 fall of the Awami League government, a party for which he was a member of parliament. He was also named in an FIR in connection with an alleged murder case, although he was not in the country at the time. He then took part in Test series in Pakistan and India, with the second Test against India in Kanpur marking his final international appearance.
“I have not officially retired from all formats. This is the first time I will reveal that. My plan is to go back to Bangladesh, play a full series of ODI, Test and T20, and retire. I mean, [I can] stop all formats in a series. So it can start from T20I, ODI and Test, or Test, ODI, T20I. Anyway, I’m doing well, but I want to play a whole series and then retire. That’s what I want,” Shakib said on the Beard Before Wicket podcast.
Shakib further stated that he will not be burdened by results and that he is focused on giving back to the fans for their years of support, especially in a home series. He also shared his thoughts on returning to Bangladesh.
“I’m hopeful. That’s why I’m playing [T20 leagues]. I think it will happen. I think when a player says something, he tries to stick to his words. Normally they don’t change it all at once. It doesn’t matter if I play well or not. If I want to play after that, I might play a bad series. But I don’t have to do that. I think this is enough. It’s just a nicer way to say goodbye to the fans who have always supported me, give something back by playing a home series,” said Shakib.
Ahead of the Kanpur Test in September last year, Shakib announced that he would no longer play T20Is while expressing his desire to play his last Test during the home series against South Africa, scheduled for October. There were protests and clashes around the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka in the lead-up to the series, after which Shakib apologized for his previous silence during the student-led demonstrations.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) subsequently dropped Shakib from the Test squad amid concerns over the interim government’s inability to guarantee his safe departure from the country. Earlier this year, a BCB official had stated that Shakib was welcome to return to the national team. However, in September, Bangladesh’s sports adviser Asif Mahmud declared that Shakib would not be allowed to represent the country after publicly wishing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her birthday.
Shakib, who was elected MP from his hometown of Magura in January 2024, also indicated that he was not done with his political career when asked about the legacy he wants to leave behind.
“[I have] done my cricket part. Perhaps the political side remains. It’s something I want to do for the people of Bangladesh and the people of Magura. That was my intention, and that is still my intention. Let’s see where Allah takes me,” Shakib said.
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