Veteran Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has announced that he will retire from international cricket in March 2025 after an 18-year career representing his country. It is well known that the former Bangladesh captain is currently under prosecution for murder charges in Bangladesh, along with numerous other members of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s party. He is among those accused of taking part in a deadly police crackdown on protesters in July and August this year.
Since the fall of Hasina’s government in August, the cricketer has not returned to Bangladesh. On Thursday, September 26, he expressed his intention to participate in one final Test series at home. He hopes to represent the country in the upcoming Test series against South Africa, though his return to Bangladesh is still in doubt.
“I have said this to BCB [Bangladesh Cricket Board] and the selectors. They agreed with me, that they are trying to organise everything if possible, so that I can go back to Bangladesh play those two Test matches in Mirpur and finish my Test career there. If that doesn’t happen maybe this is my last one [Test match],” Shakib told reporters ahead of Friday’s second India-Bangladesh Test in Kanpur.
Bangladesh is scheduled to host South Africa for a two-match Test series, pending security clearance, with the series set to begin on October 21. The Proteas is currently evaluating whether Bangladesh is safe following last month’s political unrest.
Shakib had said that the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan will be his final international appearance. The veteran also confirmed that he has already retired from T20I cricket after this year’s World Cup.
“I have eight games to go in ODIs and the Champions Trophy will be last. This is the right time for me to move on and BCB will look into some new players,” he said further.
Shakib is one of the greatest cricketers Bangladesh has ever produced and one of the top all-rounders globally, with over 700 wickets and nearly 15,000 runs in the international circuit. The 37-year-old has been instrumental in elevating Bangladesh’s rise, captivating fans with both his remarkable performances and leadership. Notably, he is the only player to have simultaneously topped the ICC’s all-rounder rankings across all three formats.
Recently, he played a vital role in his team’s historic Test series whitewash against Pakistan earlier in September. He then participated in county cricket for Surrey before heading to India for two Tests. Since debuting for Bangladesh in 2006, he has played 70 Tests, 247 ODIs, and 129 T20 internationals.
