The cricketing world is buzzing with the announcement of Shakib Al Hasan’s retirement, marking the end of an era for Bangladeshi cricket. As the second Test match of the series between India and Bangladesh approaches, Shakib made headlines by revealing his decision to retire from T20 International cricket and his intentions regarding Test cricket during a press conference held just before the Kanpur Test starting on September 27.
Shakib Al Hasan’s Retirement Announcement
In a heartfelt announcement, Shakib Al Hasan disclosed his plans to retire from Test cricket after the home series against South Africa, scheduled to take place next month in Mirpur. However, the all-rounder noted that if he does not receive security clearance to participate in that series, the upcoming Kanpur Test could potentially be his last in the format.
Shakib expressed his sentiments, saying, “I have conveyed my desire to play my last Test in Mirpur to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). They are on board with my wishes and are striving to make the necessary arrangements for me to return to Bangladesh. If that does not materialize, then the match against India in Kanpur will be my final appearance in Test cricket.” In addition to this, Shakib confirmed that he has retired from T20 format, having played his last match during the T20 World Cup 2024.
A Legend in Bangladeshi Cricket
Shakib Al Hasan stands tall among the most prominent figures in Bangladeshi cricket history. Renowned as one of the finest all-rounders globally, he has played an impressive 70 Test matches for Bangladesh. Over the course of his Test career, he has amassed 4,600 runs, which includes 31 half-centuries and 5 centuries. Additionally, Shakib has taken a remarkable 242 wickets, achieving the milestone of 5 wickets in an innings on 19 occasions.
In the T20 International arena, Shakib’s contributions have been equally significant, featuring in 129 matches where he scored 2,551 runs and claimed 149 wickets. With a comprehensive ODI career also under his belt, he has played 247 matches, notching up a total of 7,570 runs and securing 317 wickets. While he has provided clarity regarding his retirement from T20s and his potential retirement timeline from Tests, there has been no definitive update about his future in One-Day Internationals, leaving open the possibility for him to continue in this format for now.
