Did Shakib Al Hasan sacrifice his dream of ending his international career at home for a political career? He might become another cricketer who fails to get a farewell at home, and it is safe to say his international career is all but over after he decided to join the podium with former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina, along with the majority of her party members, has been absconding from the country since the student movement that ousted her government in August 2024.
Exactly two years later, Hasina decided to come out of the wilderness and face the media through a virtual press conference alongside some of her top policymakers, including Shakib. This move suggests he is now more focused on reshaping his political career rather than making moves toward an international comeback.
Unidentified individuals vandalized windows and attempted to set fire to the former Bangladesh captain’s house hours after he joined the media interaction addressed by Sheikh Hasina. It gives a clear picture of what he can expect if he decides to return to the country.
The timing of the media interaction also drew severe criticism, as it occurred just before India’s potential tour of Bangladesh. The Bangladesh government responded to the virtual presser in a harsh manner, and if insiders are to be believed, it will certainly have an impact on the upcoming tour, if not anything more.
Whether it was a calculated move keeping the India series in mind is a matter of debate, but one thing looks clear: Shakib has opted to choose his party over international cricket, despite previously announcing on different media platforms that he wanted to retire after playing at home.
Aminul Haque, Bangladesh’s State Minister for Youth and Sports, told on Friday that he does not see any chance of Shakib’s return to the country, let alone playing in national colors. “There is no scope for him to return and play for the country,” said Aminul.
“The way he backed out from the position of a cricketer and came up with a political identity, I don’t think he has any chance of returning to the country. When he returns, he will have to deal with everything through law,” Aminul added. He noted that while officials were initially tolerant, the recent virtual appearance changed the landscape, stating, “Who had got up on the stage of autocrats, there is no scope for him to return to the country and play for the national team.”
Sirajuddin Mohammad Alamgir, a current BCB director, echoed these sentiments. “I think now his political identity is bigger than a cricketer, at least after what happened recently following his decision to join the dais virtually with his party leaders,” he said. He emphasized that by choosing to sit with Awami League leaders, Shakib has made his political aspirations clear, adding, “You have to pay a price for everything, and it looks like everyone is well aware of the price he opted to choose. He sacrificed his international cricket for political identity.”
Alamgir further explained the logistical hurdles, stating, “Now we will have to look at him as a political person more than a cricketer. If that is the case, he needs to get cleared of all his charges and later pass a fitness test to play for the national team. Taking his age into consideration, it looks highly unlikely that he will be playing in the national team again.”
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has seen three presidents—Faruque Ahmed, Aminul Islam, and currently Tamim Iqbal—since the July 2024 movement. The position became vacant after former board president Nazmul Hasan, a lawmaker in the Awami League government, fled the country following the uprising. During various media interactions, these presidents have been asked about their plans regarding the ace all-rounder. While they have occasionally sounded optimistic about talks with the government, the government’s firm stance suggests that current BCB leadership has little influence, leaving Shakib to continue plying his trade in franchise-based T20 tournaments abroad.
