Bangladesh’s cricket star Shakib Al Hasan might be able to play his farewell Test match at home as he desired, with growing support from top officials on the issue. According to a Cricbuzz report, Youth and Sports Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain expressed his personal wish for Shakib to end his Test career in Bangladesh.
“He (Shakib) is a player who has contributed a lot to the country.Since he wishes to play his final Test match in Bangladesh, I personally hope he gets that opportunity,” Bhuyain said during the Women’s T20 World Cup match between Bangladesh and Scotland on October 3.
Bhuyain assured that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) would ensure Shakib gets top-level security. But he clarified that any allegations against the all-rounder would be handled by the Ministry of Law.
“We will absolutely provide the highest level of security for our players…we have already committed to ensuring Shakib Al Hasan’s security, and we will honour that commitment,” he added.
Previously, Bhuyain had insisted that Shakib clarify his political stance before receiving security. The shift in Bhuyain’s stance has increased the optimism that Shakib might play his final Test at Mirpur, despite challenges from his brief political involvement.
Shakib, a former lawmaker, faced allegations related to a murder case last month. He expressed concerns about his safety during a press conference in Kanpur, while playing in the second Test against India.
A senior BCB official stated that they are trying to bring Shakib back for the upcoming Test series against South Africa. The official indicated that Shakib’s brief political career might work in his favor.
“You cannot point fingers at Shakib as a politician since he won the election, but it didn’t last long—less than six months—so, how could he be punished for corruption? It’s true that he is facing challenges due to his association with a certain political party, but at the same time, he didn’t have much involvement as a politician,” the BCB official said.
Shakib is expected to inform the BCB soon about his availability for the South Africa series, moving closer to a possible farewell Test in front of his home crowd.