Shakib could yet get fairytale farewell from Tests at home: Reports

A week after claiming that Shakib Al Hasan must clarify his political stance to get security, Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Advisor Asif Mahmud has stated he ‘personally hopes’ that the veteran cricketer gets to bid goodbye from Test cricket at home in the forthcoming two-Test series against Bangladesh.

Mahmud has claimed that, should Shakib set foot into Bangladesh, he will be provided with the ‘highest level of security’.

"He [Shakib] is a player who has contributed a lot to the country. Since he wishes to play his final Test match in Bangladesh, I personally hope he gets that opportunity," Mahmud said, as reported by Cricbuzz.

"We will absolutely provide the highest level of security for our players. If there are any allegations against anyone, that is a different issue. I cannot comment on that, as it falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Law. However, we have already committed to ensuring Shakib Al Hasan's security, and we will honour that commitment.”

The two-Test series against South Africa will begin on October 21, and Bangladesh are expected to announce their squad next week.

A Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) source has told Cricbuzz that, by the end of this week, Shakib will let the board know whether he is willing to play the two-Test series.

"He [Shakib] is expected to let us know in a couple of days whether he will play in the two-match Test series or not," the source said.

Two weeks ago, BCB’s new president Faruque Ahmed stated that Shakib’s security in the country was not in the BCB’s hands and that it was up to the government to protect the veteran all-rounder.

"We don't have it [Shakib's security] in our hand. The security needs to come from the government, and he will have to take his own decision. We cannot say anything about his security. We don't have the ability to provide security to any individual,” Faruque said.

"I am neither an agency nor police or the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). The security issue needs to be cleared by the government because from the board we cannot say anything.”

Shakib, an elected Member of Parliament from Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party, had in August been named in an FIR along with 147 others in a murder case. 

With Hasina facing political exile, many instances of Awami League party leaders being assaulted have occurred in the country in the last two months. 

These developments are what have put Shakib’s return to Bangladesh in jeopardy, let alone him coming back to the country and playing a Test match.

If you’ve not downloaded the Cricket.com app yet, you’re missing out on our content — big time. Download the App here.