Bangladesh’s long-running Shakib Al Hasan saga has taken another turn, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) actively working on a potential return for the veteran, possibly as early as the upcoming home series against Pakistan in March. However, batting coach Mohammad Ashraful believes that if Shakib does indeed return to international cricket, his ambitions should extend far beyond the farewell performance. According to Ashraful, the former captain should instead focus on representing Bangladesh in the 2027 ODI World Cup.
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Shakib’s name has returned to the limelight after the BCB confirmed last week that they want to bring him back into the national fold. While the move initially appeared to be symbolic in the wake of Bangladesh’s World Cup struggles, BCB director Asif Akbar insisted it was part of a real, ongoing plan rather than a public relations exercise. According to Cricbuzz, the management has remained in regular contact with Shakib and is targeting his return ahead of the three-match ODI series against Pakistan, scheduled for March 12, 14 and 16. The Test leg of the tour will be held later in May after the Pakistan Cricket Board proposed splitting the series due to the Pakistan Super League. “We are in regular communication with Shakib and he is keen to play and if everything goes according to our plan, we hope to bring him back before the home series against Pakistan,” Asif told Cricbuzz. He added that Shakib’s primary concern is his personal safety and the harassment cases filed against him, which are matters currently being investigated by the government. “These do not come under our jurisdiction (his cases) but we have taken a decision – among the 25 BCB board members, about 23 of us were present and almost all of them unanimously wanted Shakib in the team,” explained Asif. According to Asif, the board has also mandated its president to engage the government to help resolve legal hurdles. “Our president has been given the responsibility to discuss the matter with the government – that we want Shakib and the government should deal with his legal issues. That’s it, nothing more,” he said. While officials have identified March as a possible comeback period, Ashraful feels that Shakib should reconsider his earlier stated plans to retire. The former Bangladesh captain announced in September 2024 that he would retire from T20Is with immediate effect and hoped to end his Test career after the home series against South Africa, subject to a security clearance. That permission never came. After the fall of the Awami League government, Shakib – a former member of parliament under the previous regime – was unable to return home and effectively lived in exile, missing international cricket for more than a year. Recently, Shakib expressed his desire to play all three formats in front of home fans before he officially retires, a stance that is in line with BCB’s current approach. However, Ashraful believes a more selective route could enhance Shakib’s value to the team. “I saw his interview where he said he wants to leave Bangladesh after playing all formats. But personally I think in today’s cricket, if you play only one format – like Mushfiqur now he only plays Tests… if he wants to focus on that as long as he wants and as long as he performs, he can keep playing,” Ashraful told Cricbuzz. He pointed to the 2027 ODI World Cup as a realistic target. “With the World Cup (2027 ODI World Cup) after another year… if Shakib wants to continue only ODI cricket for Bangladesh till the 2027 World Cup, his age will be around 37-38. And the way workload is managed in modern cricket, playing till 40-42 is not a problem at all,” he said. Ashraful added that Shakib’s continued presence in global franchise leagues strengthens the case for a role in the limited-overs format. “That would be good because he is fit and playing all the franchise tournaments. It is not like he is sitting at home. Because he is playing all the franchise leagues and if he continues for Bangladesh only in ODIs with the World Cup planned, it will be good for everyone,” he noted. Shakib himself remained guarded. When contacted after the BCB announcement, he declined to explain his plans. “We’ll see what happens,” he said, acknowledging the complexity of the situation. In September last year, Bangladesh sports advisor Asif Mahmud publicly stated that Shakib would not be allowed to represent the country after he wished former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on her birthday. Shakib last played international cricket in 2024, featuring in Tests against Pakistan and India. This period marked the first time a government official openly confirmed his expulsion from the National Party. Further complicating matters is the fact that Shakib was flagged for a suspect bowling action during his stint with Surrey in 2024 and was subsequently suspended. He later admitted that excessive bowling had taken a toll on his action, partly on purpose, before he was cleared to resume bowling after undergoing a re-evaluation. Shakib, who is now active in several franchise leagues, says staying fit remains central to his hopes of returning home and donning the Bangladeshi colors again. Whether that journey ends in March or stretches towards the 2027 World Cup remains to be seen, but the conversation surrounding his return has firmly begun.
