KANPUR: Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan shocked fans on Thursday by announcing his retirement from international cricket.
He said that despite wanting to participate in the Dhaka Test match against South Africa in October, the second test match against India may be his last.
This announcement comes as he faces serious legal issues at home, including murder charges linked to his association with the former government of Sheikh Hasina.
Cricket South Africa has yet to provide security clearance for the upcoming series, further complicating matters. As a member of the Awami League party, Shakib is facing murder charges related to police violence that resulted in numerous fatalities and injuries.
“I’m available for the South Africa series, but with everything happening back home, I can’t control the situation,” Shakib said, expressing concern about his safety in Bangladesh. He noted that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is working to ensure he can play without issues and leave the country securely.
Regarded as one of Bangladesh’s greatest cricketers, Shakib has amassed over 14,000 runs and taken more than 700 wickets in his career. He holds records for the most runs and wickets in T20Is among all Bangladeshi players, with 4,600 runs and 242 wickets in Tests.
Shakib confirmed that his future appearances for Bangladesh will likely be limited to One Day Internationals (ODIs), stating that he has already played his last T20 for the national team.
