All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will be part of the Bangladesh team for the home Test series against South Africa unless he faces an injury or selection issue, confirmed an official of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), report agencies.
Shakib, Bangladesh's most celebrated cricketer, was among 147 people named in a murder case in Dhaka last month. He had become a member of parliament in January this year. When Sheikh Hasina resigned as the prime minister on August 5 following massive anti-government protests in Bangladesh and fled the country, Shakib was playing in the Global T20 League in Canada. After that, he has travelled to Pakistan for a Test series, then played a county match for Surrey, and is now in India for another Test series. He was not in Bangladesh at any point during the protests or since. The case in question relates to the death of Mohammed Rubel, who was wounded in the firing during the protests on August 5 and died two days later.
But since Bangladesh will face South Africa in two-match Test series at home, he will have to return to country if he wants to play.
"I think the honourable chief adviser, law adviser and sports adviser have spoken very clearly regarding Shakib Al Hasan and there is a clear message from the Bangladesh government that no one will be harassed unfairly in the cases that have been filed," Shahriar Nafees, in-charge of the BCB's cricket operations, said on Monday.
"We believe the interim government has made its position very clear on Shakib. Unless there is an injury problem or a selection-related issue, I personally don't see any reason as of now why Shakib Al Hasan should not play in Bangladesh in the home series."
However, Shakib's participation in Kanpur Test against India was left in limbo following a finger injury concern. He also made a poor return with both batting and bowling in first Test in Chennai which Bangladesh lost by 280 runs.
The second and final Test at Kanpur will start from September 27.
Meanwhile, the BCB is confident that Shakib won't have any problems returning to Bangladesh - for the first time since the fall of the Awami League government, of which he was a part - for the Test series against South Africa next month.
Nafees said on Monday that the country's caretaker government had clarified that Shakib would not be "harassed".
Bangladesh, who are currently in India to play Tests and T20Is, are scheduled to play two home Tests against South Africa in October.
Last month, Bangladesh's law adviser, Asif Nazrul, had also said that he hoped Shakib would not be arrested in connection with the case. "There's only a case filed against Shakib. I hope he will not be arrested. I have come to know that the police forces have been asked to show as much restraint as possible in case something incredible happens."
