Tamim speaks on Shakib's comeback [Source: AFP]It has been nearly two years since one of Bangladesh's best players, Shakib Al Hasan, was out of the team. He last featured for the Tigers in the Kanpur Test against India, but since then, his fortunes have taken a hit as the all-rounder finds himself out of reckoning in the current setup.During this time, Shakib has continued to play franchise cricket across the globe, but the player has one last wish he hopes to fulfill: to return to Bangladesh and play a full-fledged series before announcing his retirement.For those who don’t know, Shakib Al Hasan’s return to Bangladesh is complicated due to several legal cases linked with him during his time as a former Member of the Parliament under the former government regime.Tamim Iqbal breaks silence on Shakib Al Hasan's returnIn reality, Shakib has to resolve those cases before his last wish gets fulfilled, and speaking on the same matter, Shakib’s former teammate, and current BCB ad-hoc committee president, Tamim Iqbal, also echoes the same views.“For the last one and a half to two years, we have been talking only about one person - Shakib. I would request everyone to also remember that three former cricketers and former captains are in similar situations - Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan, and Naimur Rahman Durjoy. It is not right for me to sit here and speak only about one person. When asking questions, I request you to mention the other two names as well.”Indirectly, the former Bangladesh player, Tamim stated that Shakib has no chance to make his return unless his legal battle gets over.Rift that ended Shakib-Tamim's close bondThe two star players, Tamim and Shakib, made their Bangladesh debut almost at the same time, and alongside Mashrafe Mortaza, and Mushfiqur Rahim, they became the pillars of Bangladesh cricket for the next decade.The duo had numerous match-winning partnerships on the field, but their relations deteriorated off the field. Their rift has been a long-standing issue in Bangladesh cricket, marked by intense media speculation and public disagreements.The boiling point came during the 2023 World Cup, when Shakib criticised Tamim for his fitness, and also labelled him as childish and not a team man.Once inseparable, the duo now hardly look in each other's eyes as their relationship has drastically hampered Bangladesh cricket.Also Read: Shakib Al Hasan Issues Official Statement On Tamim Iqbal Becoming BCB PresidentShakib Al Hasan reveals his future cricketing plansWhile Tamim doesn’t want Shakib near the Bangladesh side, the 39-year-old all-rounder has different plans altogether.Shakib remains hopeful that he’ll return to Bangladesh soon, and he also wishes to speak to Tamim about his future.Speaking about his future: “I haven’t really thought it through yet, but I’m hopeful that things will be sorted by the end of the year. For now, I’m just keeping my fingers crossed. One thing is certain - I will have to return to Bangladesh. The only question is how soon that can happen. But I remain optimistic that I’ll be back by the end of the year. I don’t know exactly how it will happen, but I’m genuinely hopeful.”“We haven’t spoken about any plans. Or, for that matter, anything of that sort. To be honest, there have been no discussions on that front, so at this point, I don’t have a clear picture. But with Bangladesh cricket, you never quite know — things can move quickly. We might talk over a couple of days and then sit down to see if there’s a solution.Bangladesh has a hectic schedule this year, and the Tigers might be interested in bringing their most experienced player back in the side.Also Read: Sameer Rizvi-Yesha Sagar Controversy Explained: Why Fans Have Suddenly Hounded Delhi Capitals Star?
