Kanpur. Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan on Thursday announced his retirement from T20 international cricket with immediate effect and also said that if his home board does not organize a farewell match for him at home, then the second Test match against India here will be his last Test. His last match for Bangladesh will be in the Champions Trophy ODI tournament which is likely to be held in the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan. The 37-year-old has played 129 T20 internationals for Bangladesh. He will continue to play in this format in the franchise league.
Shakib said on the eve of the second Test cricket match against India, “I have played my last T20 International match in the T20 World Cup. We discussed with the selectors. Keeping in mind the World Cup to be held in 2026, this is the right time for me to retire. Hopefully the Bangladesh Cricket Board will be able to find some good players and our team will perform well.” Shakib has scored 4600 runs in 70 Test matches and along with this he has taken 242 wickets. If the Bangladesh Cricket Board does not assure his safety, then the match to be held in Kanpur will be his last Test match. He has been accused of murder in Bangladesh while he was not even in his country at that time.
He said, “I had expressed my desire to play the last Test match in Mirpur to my cricket board. They agreed to this. They are making all arrangements so that I can go to Bangladesh. If this does not happen then the match against India in Kanpur will be my last match in Test cricket.” Shakib was named as an accused in a murder case during political unrest in Bangladesh. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had to step down due to political unrest. Shakib was a member of Parliament from her party Awami League. Shakib made this announcement while talking to the Bangladeshi media but after the request of Indian journalists, he spoke in English.
Shakib has been named as an accused in the FIR filed in the murder of a garment worker Mohammad Rubel in August. The worker’s father Rafikul Islam had lodged the FIR on August 7. Shakib indicated that he would not go to Bangladesh after the current series against India if he does not get security assurances.
He said, “Returning to Bangladesh is not a problem but getting out of there can be a problem. My close friends and family are worried about my safety. I think things will get better. There should be a solution to this.” Shakib became an MP in January. He was criticized for not taking the side of the students during the protest. When he was playing in Pakistan, some Bangladeshi spectators shouted slogans against him. During a private T20 league, abusive words were also used against him, the video of which went viral on social media. Shakib said, “I still have to play eight matches in ODIs and the Champions Trophy will be my last tournament.”