Bangladesh cricket chiefs have reopened the door to the return of ex-captain Shakib Al Hasan, a star player but also an MP for the former ruling party ousted in a 2024 uprising.
Shakib’s ties to ousted leader Sheikh Hasina made him a target of public anger, and he was among dozens of people being investigated for murder due to a deadly police crackdown on protesters.
The all-rounder announced his retirement from international cricket in 2024, but said he would like to reverse that decision last month.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) senior official Amzad Hossain said he can play again.
“The board has taken a unanimous decision that if Shakib Al Hasan’s availability, fitness and accessibility permit – and if he can be present at the venue where the matches are taking place – then the board and the selection panel will consider him for the national team,” Hossain told reporters on Saturday evening.
He added that the BCB would issue no-objection certificates (NOCs) to Shakib to play in foreign leagues.
“If he wishes to participate in other world tournaments, the board will provide him with an NOC as required,” Amzad added.
Shakib previously apologized for remaining silent during the student-led uprising, but defended his decision to serve the regime he overthrew.
Bangladesh cricket is reeling from being kicked out of next month’s T20 World Cup after the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Saturday replaced Bangladesh with Scotland.
The BCB had refused to send its players to India and had pleaded for the matches to be moved to co-host Sri Lanka.
The dispute between New Delhi and Dhaka erupted this month when the Indian cricket board ordered Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman.
The ICC said it found no credible threat to Bangladesh’s security in India, but the BCB said the matter was beyond its control.
“This is a government decision taken for security reasons,” Amzad said. “Because of that, we couldn’t do anything anymore. »
Shakib was playing in a domestic Twenty20 cricket competition in Canada when Hasina’s government collapsed and has not returned to Bangladesh since.
The left-arm all-rounder played 71 Tests, 247 one-day internationals and 129 Twenty20s for Bangladesh, taking a total of 712 wickets.
