Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief Faruque Ahmed says the board played no part in superstar all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan's decision against returning to Bangladesh for his farewell Test, reports bdnews24.com.
While he personally made every effort to facilitate Shakib's return, the situation was ultimately beyond the board's control, Faruque added.
The BCB chief also confirmed that Shakib remains 'available' for selection for the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan.
Shakib had planned to draw the curtain on his Test career at the ongoing series against South Africa on home soil and was named in Bangladesh's squad.
However, his potential return was a divisive issue among fans as tensions around the Mirpur Stadium boiled over into clashes between Shakib's supporters and detractors. Ultimately, the cricketer-turned-politician opted against returning to the country.
Until now, the BCB had not issued any formal statement on Shakib's absence from his farewell match.
"We had no involvement whatsoever in Shakib's inability to return for his final Test," said Faruque.
"This was an issue between law enforcement, the government, and Shakib. The BCB's role was only supportive. While I personally did everything I could to make sure Shakib could retire on home soil, there were limits to what we could do."
He continued, "Shakib is not just a player; he's also a former MP from the previous government, and there are certain sentiments attached to him. The government and the cricket board don't always see things the same way."
During a layover in Dubai, Shakib told the online sports portal, "I was supposed to return home... but now it seems I won't be able to, for security reasons, for my own safety…"
Faruque emphasised that if Shakib had returned, the board would have ensured his safety but was otherwise powerless in this situation.
"As a former cricketer, I believe someone who has served for 17 years and is a brand ambassador for Bangladesh deserved a farewell at home. But there were other factors at play. Given the circumstances, he couldn't come back at the last moment, and there was nothing more the board could do," he added.
"This was a legal matter involving law enforcement. It was between Shakib and the authorities. If he had come, we would have provided as much security as possible. But since he didn't, there's no point discussing it further."
Shakib's future in international cricket is now up in the air. When announcing his Test retirement, the 37-year-old expressed his desire to continue playing ODIs until the Champions Trophy in 2025.
Bangladesh has two ODI series ahead of the Champions Trophy in February-March: a three-match series against Afghanistan in the UAE, and another in December against the West Indies.
