Bangladesh’s forthcoming home series against Pakistan could witness Shakib Al Hasan’s homecoming. The star all-rounder, who was nearly 18 months away from home, is likely to make his comeback into Bangladesh cricket.
On Tuesday (February 24), the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is reported to have submitted the supporting documents to the government related to Shakib’s legal cases.
The 38-year-old fled from his nation ever since Sheikh Hasina’s government was expelled in August 2024.
BCB Starts Formal Process for Shakib’s Comeback
Without elaborating about the formal proceedings, one of the BCB officials confirmed that the documents have been submitted to the Bangladesh government.
“Yeah! His (Shakib’s) case papers are sent to the government,” the BCB official said.
However, another BCB official explained in-detail about the board’s responsibilities and the limitations to its authority:
“Absolutely! Yesterday, we forwarded those documents. But you need to know about the issues in framing the policy, which will be governed by the
Currently, the proceedings are handled by the appropriate authorities. The board is in no way involved in any of the procedures. If they require anything (from the BCB), we will be informed,” the BCB official clarified.
Shakib’s Teammate Expects a Great Comeback
Mehidy Hasan Miraz voiced his opinion to reporters that he is keen to collaborate with his long-time teammate Shakib Al Hasan. Here is what the spin-bowling all-rounder said:
“Certainly! Playing with him (Shakib) once more makes me feel happier. Even after playing together for several years, we both didn’t feature in the national side for the past few years.
I would feel excited if Shakib Bhaai plays for Bangladesh in the upcoming contest [referring to the white-ball series against Pakistan],” Miraz said.
Had Shakib Al Hasan Retired from All Forms of Cricket?
No! For the unversed, Shakib Al Hasan was inactive in his cricket career rather than being officially retired. Here is what the former captain said:
“See! I haven’t formally retired from all formats of cricket”. A couple of months back, the former Member of Parliament (MP) of the Awami League Party gave this as a clarifying statement.
His absence was certainly felt in the national squad for one and a half years. But Shakib ensured his participation in the global franchise leagues.
Yusuf Led Government: A Threat to Shakib
Bangladesh’s interim government under the Mohammad Yunus era saw Shakib involved in severe and multiple legal cases. One such accusation includes the murder case. However, several reports claimed that these charges were false and were politically driven just because of his links with the former government.
Shakib’s affiliation with the Awami League prompted Yusuf’s government to impose a non-formal ban on him.
BCB Aims to Fulfill Shakib’s Last Wish
Shakib Al Hasan earlier expressed his wish to represent his country in one last home bilateral series.
His previous international appearance for Bangladesh includes the 2-match test series against India in October 2024. The 2nd test of the series at Kanpur was indeed his last international game.
Perhaps, the upcoming series against Pakistan could feature Shakib playing for Bangladesh in front of his homecrowd. The white ball series comprises 3 ODIs scheduled on the 11th, 13th, and 15th of March 2026, respectively. Notably, the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka hosts all these fixtures.
Shakib’s Entry: Why Timing Matters the Most?
Bangladesh’s struggle with inconsistency has clearly been evident ever since Shakib Al Hasan’s absence. Shockingly, the team managed to win only 7 out of its last 25 ODIs. In other words, the team succumbed to 17 losses, with an abandoned fixture.
Despite not featuring in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026, Bangladesh earned direct qualification for the tournament’s 11th edition in 2028.
The focus shifts to the 50-over World Cup in 2027. Alongside the hosts, South Africa and Zimbabwe, the top eight full member nations as of March 31, 2027, would certainly earn direct qualification into the 14-team tournament. Whereas the remaining four spots can be secured by the underranked teams via qualifiers.
Bangladesh currently stands 10th in the ICC ODI rankings. Ahead of the cut-off date, the Tigers have 20 to 23 ODIs scheduled, starting with the Pakistan series.
As the timing of Shakib’s comeback becomes crucial, his presence could bolster Bangladesh’s middle order and spin bowling attack. The former Bangladeshi skipper has the ability to anchor his team’s imbalanced line-up.
Additionally, his experience could be an added advantage for Bangladesh to climb one or two spots above the rankings. This could be possible by avoiding heavy defeats in the forthcoming series against these teams:
- Pakistan
- New Zealand
- Ireland
- South Africa
- Zimbabwe
The fear of securing World Cup participation via a qualifier prompted the BCB to reappoint an experienced and match-winner like Shakib.
Also Read: WBPL 2026: All You Need to Know About Draft Date, Players Categories, and Salary Structure
Final Thoughts
Despite BCB’s initiation of formal documentation proceedings, the government remains keen on a legal solution.
It all depends on how instantly the legal procedures take place to ensure Shakib’s homecoming— ahead of limited overs series against Pakistan or later phases of the ODI World Cup qualification cycle. To explain in simpler terms, the Bangladesh government is clear with its stance— Sporting comeback of any athlete requires proper and legal clearance
