KARACHI: Bangladesh’s veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has revealed that he is not retiring from the three formats and instead wants to play a full-fledged domestic series before calling time on his glittering international career.
Shakib, who represented Bangladesh in the Kanpur Test against India in October last year, pulled out in favor of his political and legal controversies.
The all-rounder served as a legislator of the Awami League, a party earlier led by Sheikh Hasina that was ousted from power in a student-led uprising last year.
Speaking to the media ahead of his latest appearance for Bangladesh, Shakib hinted that the series against India could be his last when he is done playing T20Is.
Although the experienced all-rounder expressed interest in the next domestic series against South Africa, he was not selected in the Bangladesh squad, leading to speculation that the Kanpur Test against India would be his final international appearance.
“I am ready for the South Africa series, but with a lot going on at home, naturally everything will not depend on me,” Shakib said.
“I have discussed my plans for Test cricket with the PCB, especially this series and I was thinking that this might be my last Test series at home.
“I told (PCB chairman) Farooq Bhai and the selectors. If given the opportunity, if I can play, my last Test will be in Mirpur. The board is trying to ensure that I play and feel safe, while I can leave the country unhindered.
“I am a citizen of Bangladesh, so there should be no problem for me to go back to Bangladesh,” he said. “My concern is my safety and security in Bangladesh. My close friends and family members are worried. I hope things are getting better. There has to be a solution.”
Meanwhile, according to the latest development, Shakib Al Hasan has said that he has not “officially” retired from any form and instead wants to play “a full series” before retiring from international cricket.
“I am not officially retired from all formats. This is the first time I am expressing that. My plan is to come back to Bangladesh and play a full series in ODIs, Tests and T20Is,” Shakib said while speaking on YouTube’s “Beard Before Wicket” podcast.
“I mean, (I can) retire from all formats in a series. So it could start from T20Is, ODIs and Tests, or Tests, ODIs and T20Is. Either way, I’m fine, but I want to play a full series and retire. That’s what I want,” he added.
Shakib has represented Bangladesh in 71 Tests, 247 ODIs and 129 T20Is, taking 712 international wickets and amassing a total of 14,730 runs across formats.