Cricket career almost over, political career remaining: Shakib

Staff Correspondent
Shakib Al Hasan, the most successful cricketer in Bangladesh’s history who is out of the national team for political reasons, has said that he has not officially retired yet. Shakib hopes to return to the country and play a full series before he can retire. Although his cricket career is over, this Awami League MP has been able to stay by the side of the people through politics.

Shakib is currently playing the IL T20 tournament in the United Arab Emirates. In the meantime, the Bangladeshi star spoke on the ‘Beard Before Wicket’ podcast. He said, ‘I have not officially retired.’ Then he expressed his desire, ‘My plan is to return to Bangladesh, play a full series—ODI, Test and T20—and then retire. That is my plan.’

After the fall of the Awami League government on August 24 last year, Shakib could not return to the country. He was elected as a member of parliament from the Magura-2 constituency on the nomination of the Bangladesh Awami League. But he could not serve for long. After the fall of the government, he was in two series abroad, but when he wanted to return to the country and retire, the interim government prevented him. Asif Mahmud, the sports advisor to the interim government, threatened to never let Shakib play in Bangladesh again.

Although the reality of returning to play in this situation is difficult, Shakib believes that the situation will change at some point, ‘I am optimistic. I think it is possible (to return to play and retire).’

“I want to retire from all formats with a series. It could start with T20s, then ODIs, then Tests—or Tests-ODIs-T20s. I’m fine with either way,” he said.

The star then said that even though his cricket career is over, his ambitions for politics remain strong. And about his next career, ‘I think I’ve almost finished the cricket part of my career. Maybe the politics part is still left. This is something I want to do for the people of Bangladesh and the people of Magura. It was my desire, which still is. Let’s see where God takes me.’