"If BCB Had Handled...": Shakib Al Hasan Breaks Silence On Bangladesh Return

Shakib Al Hasan in PSL [Source: AFP]

Bangladesh legend Shakib Al Hasan last played for the national team back in October 2024, when they toured India for a two-match Test series. Since the 0-2 drubbing against the Asian giants, the player has been out of the squad, despite not announcing his retirement.

From time to time, there have been speculations around his potential return for the Men in Green, as he continues to feature in T20 leagues around the world. 

Following the recent T20 World Cup withdrawal and subsequent postponement of the WBPL, the southpaw took shots at the BCB’s management of off-field issues and spilt the beans on his future plans.

Will Shakib Al Hasan return for Bangladesh?

Having represented Bangladesh in 447 internationals, only second to Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan has scored 14730 runs for them alongside 712 wickets, which is the most for any Bangaldesh player. Additionally, he has also captained them in 120 matches across formats.

However, now that the fans hope for a potential return to international cricket, with the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 on the agenda, Shakib faces several complexities, but hasn’t ruled out the chances of playing for the Asian team. In a recent interview with The Daily Star, Shakib specifically spoke about the situation and took a subtle jibe at the politics in BCB.

“That is secondary. My priority is returning to the country. I have seen in interviews and comments from the BCB and others that they want me to come and play. But since a legal process is ongoing, these things cannot just be said verbally; the issues must be resolved for me to return,” he said.

“Since I am far away, it would have been easier for me if the BCB had handled these matters on my behalf. I am not saying they haven't done anything at all, but if it had been done a bit better, there would have been a possibility of a quicker solution. Since that didn't happen and I am being delayed, I am doing my level best to find a solution,” he added.

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Legal troubles keep Shakib Al Hasan away from Bangladesh

In August 2025, a Bangaldeshi court ordered the seizure of Shakib Al Hasan’s assets, forcing him to stay away from the country. This was due to his allegiance to the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He was a lawmaker of the Awami League before Hasina was forced out of the country due to student-led protests in 2024.

Shakib currently stays in Long Island, waiting for the legal troubles to end so he can return to Bangladesh soon. His last competitive match of cricket came in the ILT20 2026 final.

Representing MI Emirates, he scored 115 runs in 5 innings of the tournament at 122.34 but only picked 3 wickets in 20 overs, across the season.

Bangladesh prepares for crucial 2026/27 season

Following the recent string of bad months for Bangladesh cricket, which kept them away from the T20 World Cup, Bangladesh returned to international action against Pakistan. Despite doubts over the team’s ODI preparations from captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz, they won the three-match ODI series BY 2-1.

Up next, they will host New Zealand for T20Is later in April before crucial Test tours of Australia and South Africa later in 2026 in pursuit of moving up the World Test Championship table from number 8.

Having missed the T20 World Cup 2026, their focus will now completely shift to the 50-over World Cup in 2027, where they would hope to replicate the 2015 blitz amid the power struggle that BCB is going through.

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