What followed, however, did little to strengthen the credibility of that position. The issue came to light during a 40-minute media interaction that followed a nearly eight-hour board meeting at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Saturday; however, the discussion lacked clear direction or concrete explanation.
“Why are we bringing the issue of Shakib out of nowhere?” a journalist asked Amzad Hossain, chairman of the BCB media committee, who then drew attention to an animated and somewhat disjointed handling of the question-and-answer session.
Ever since the International Cricket Council opted to replace Bangladesh with Scotland in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, the focus had been firmly on the board meeting. It was against this backdrop that the idea arose to reintroduce Shakib’s name, a move seemingly designed to change headlines. .
Former BCB president Nazmul Hossain had often publicly singled out Shakib for criticism, ostensibly to gain control over one of the game’s most prominent all-rounders, although the practical impact of such comments was often limited.
A cricketer, who earlier spoke to Cricbuzz on condition of anonymity, said Nazmul would routinely follow up on such comments by calling players and asking them not to take the comments personally, explaining that they were intended to manage media pressure rather than reflect genuine opinions. According to the player, Shakib was well aware of this pattern and navigated it for much of his career, recognizing the largely performative nature of such statements.
Nazmul’s successor, Faruque Ahmed, also repeatedly spoke of his desire to see Shakib return to the national team. However, he consistently maintained that the final decision rested with the government, which ultimately did not allow Shakib’s return due to his political identity and ties to the ousted Awami League government.
Nevertheless, such statements continued to serve their immediate purpose by sparking public discussion.
Shakib himself remained unconvinced. In an earlier conversation with Cricbuzz, he said he was unsure whether the board’s renewed interest was genuine or driven by other considerations, suggesting it may have been more related to his profile than a genuine reintegration plan.
“I can’t tell if they are really excited or not because I can’t read other people’s minds,” he said during Faruque Ahmed’s tenure, when asked if the renewed attention felt more symbolic than substantive.
On Saturday (Jan 24), Amzad Hossain reiterated that the board was serious about bringing back Shakib, citing the player’s desire to finish his career in Bangladesh.
“We had an agenda item about the 27 contracted players. During that conversation, an executive suggested Shakib’s name. He said that Shakib is interested and that he has spoken to him,” Amzad told reporters after the meeting.
“If Shakib plays, from our side he must meet the eligibility and selection requirements. The legal issues are for the government. But from the board’s side, we want Shakib. That is the most important point. The board has unanimously decided that, based on the availability, suitability and accessibility of Shakib Al Hasan, and whether he can be present at the venue, the board and the selection panel will consider him for future selection. If Shakib participates in other global tournaments, the board will make NOCs available if necessary pose,” he added.
What remained unresolved was the question of whether the BCB had obtained, or even formally requested, government approval before making its intentions public, a factor that had previously prevented Shakib’s return following the July movement that led to the removal of Awami League leaders.
“The president (Aminul Islam) will talk to the government about the legal issue,” said Asif Akbar, who was sitting next to the media committee chairman.
The announcement raised questions, with many interpreting it as yet another speculative statement by board officials at a time when criticism was mounting following Bangladesh’s absence from the World Cup.
The political context surrounding Shakib’s situation has also attracted attention. With general elections scheduled for February 12 and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party positioned as the main candidate, there is growing speculation that a change in government could facilitate Shakib’s return, given the party’s stance on keeping sports and politics separate.
Several observers believe that, should Shakib return under a new government, the BCB may try to argue that efforts to reintegrate him were well underway before conditions adjusted.
Whether invoking Shakib’s name will help the board regain credibility after missing the World Cup remains uncertain. For now, the BCB has confirmed that it will not take legal action against the ICC’s decision.
“We would not go for arbitration,” Amzad said when asked about the possibility of legal action.
The World Cup campaign is over for Bangladesh. For the BCB, the focus appears to remain on recalibrating its messaging as it navigates the aftermath of that setback.
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