Since the political shift in the country, Shakib Al Hasan has become a polarising figure in Bangladesh cricket. His status is questioned before every series, and the upcoming ODI series in the Caribbean is no exception, reports bdnews24.com.
However, when it comes to naming arguably the country's greatest ever cricketer, there is still no clear answer from Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Faruque Ahmed.
Shakib's last appearance for the national team was during Bangladesh's tour of India in September. Before the second Test began, the seasoned all-rounder announced his retirement from both Test cricket and T20Is, expressing his intention to call time on his career in the longest format after playing the first match against South Africa on home soil.
However, after the political upheaval following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, Shakib was implicated in a murder case. Due to security concerns, he was discouraged from returning to the country, and as a result, his Test swansong did not take place.
Bangladesh is currently on a full tour of the West Indies. The second Test is being played at Sabina Park in Jamaica, and after that, the team will compete in a three-match ODI series. However, the squad for this series has not been announced, and the question of whether Shakib will be included continues to spark curiosity. Faruque has not offered any clear answers. Speaking at a press event in Dhaka on Sunday, he was asked about Shakib's participation but remained coy. "Honestly, I can't say too much about Shakib. If I'm repeatedly asked... I'm not exactly embarrassed, but I want Shakib to play. However, the reason he's unable to return has nothing to do with the cricket board. So, answering this question is difficult for me. The law enforcement and courts must resolve the matter," he said.
Currently, Shakib is leading the Bangla Tigers in the Abu Dhabi T10 League. Prior to the tournament, he mentioned that he would consider his national team future after the event. Unfortunately, the Bangla Tigers were eliminated after finishing ninth out of 10 teams.
If Shakib misses the ODI series in the West Indies, his participation in the Champions Trophy in February-March will be uncertain. The BCB chief did not provide clarity on that either.
"Shakib is still in our plans for the Champions Trophy. We hope that a solution is found, whatever that may be. Shakib still has the ability to play for the national team," "However, it's mentally challenging for a player to only play in overseas tournaments and not for their country. Playing in franchise leagues is different from playing for your country. There's a preparation phase and team coordination is crucial. Since he is unable to do this, I believe he is not mentally ready to play for the national team. We've left the decision up to him."
Based on Faruque's comments, it seems there's little optimism about Shakib's return to the national team.
The Lanka T10 League is set to start in Sri Lanka on December 11. Before the tournament's player draft, Galle Marbles signed Shakib on a direct contract. If Shakib does not join the West Indies tour, he might be seen in the T10 League instead.
