Shakib’s three conditions or something else?

Shakib Al Hasan has reportedly set three conditions to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) before agreeing to play in the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies. If these conditions are not met, he is said to be unwilling to participate in the series. These conditions, however, are beyond the control of the BCB, leading many to believe that Shakib’s participation in the series may not be possible. But the question remains—did Shakib really set these conditions, or is there something else at play?

According to a report by a national daily, when asked about his participation in the West Indies series, Shakib reportedly said he had three conditions: the unfreezing of his bank accounts, a guarantee to play on home soil, and assurance of unhindered arrival and departure from the country.

Despite attempts to contact him, Shakib did not provide any comments on the matter. Currently, Shakib, who is participating in the Abu Dhabi T10 League, has chosen to remain silent.

However, investigations have revealed that Shakib’s participation in the series does not depend on him alone, nor even on the BCB’s wishes. Therefore, the idea that Shakib has set conditions seems unfounded. In reality, the current interim government’s policymakers do not want Shakib to play for Bangladesh anymore. Even though the BCB wants him in the team, they are unable to include him and are not providing any clear reasons for his exclusion.

According to ICC regulations, no player can be excluded from playing for political reasons. If there is political interference, the board must be held accountable, and sanctions could follow.

During Bangladesh’s recent tour of India, Shakib announced his retirement from T20Is, stating that he would no longer play in that format, though he wished to retire from Tests in his home country. He intended to retire from ODIs after the Champions Trophy. As per his request, he was included in the squad for the Mirpur Test against South Africa, and he had even left for the US to play his final Test match. However, upon arriving in Dubai, Shakib was prevented from taking a flight back home by the Youth and Sports Advisor Asif Mahmud, citing security concerns.

While Shakib was in Dubai, protests both for and against him occurred outside the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium. On the eve of the Mirpur Test, a clash broke out between the two opposing groups. Prior to this, a murder case had been filed against Shakib, and he was fined over allegations related to a stock market scandal. Despite these issues, Shakib wanted to return home and play, but government restrictions prevented him from doing so, thus delaying his retirement from Test cricket.

With his T20I and Test careers abruptly cut short, Shakib’s remaining focus is on ODIs. Before the Champions Trophy, Bangladesh had six ODIs, all of which were played abroad. Last month, Shakib missed the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in the UAE. The BCB president cited Shakib’s lack of practice as the reason for his absence.

This month, three more ODIs are scheduled to be played in the West Indies starting from the 8th. With no issues regarding practice this time—since Shakib is already active in the T10 League—the focus has now shifted to his three reported conditions. It appears that Shakib will again be absent from the series, and the BCB’s official explanation remains to be seen.

The conditions Shakib is reportedly asking for are not unusual—anyone would likely make similar requests under his circumstances. Recently, Shakib and his wife’s bank accounts were frozen, which is another factor contributing to his exclusion from playing for Bangladesh. According to close associates of Shakib, “His bank accounts were frozen to keep him from playing. It’s a message. Even though the BCB wants him, they can’t include him.”

If Shakib were to speak out, much of the situation could be clarified, but he remains silent. His silence is likely strategic, as he is still under contract with the BCB and there are financial matters at hand. Being at the twilight of his career, Shakib seems to want to avoid further complications by staying quiet.