Bangladesh’s star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will play his final Test match in front of home fans. Shakib has been included in Bangladesh’s squad for the first Test match against South Africa, starting on October 21. Before the second and final Test against India in Kanpur, Shakib had expressed his desire to play his last Test on home soil against South Africa, provided the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) could ensure his security. During this period, Shakib had also issued an emotional message.
Shakib is accused of being involved in the murder of a student, but at the time of the incident, the experienced Bangladeshi player was participating in a T20 league in Canada. BCB’s new president, Faruque Ahmed, had rejected Shakib’s request, stating that the board is not a security agency and cannot guarantee his safety.
Bangladesh’s interim government’s sports advisor, Asif Mahmood, mentioned that Shakib would be provided with security once his political stance became clear. In response, Shakib issued an unconditional apology for his silence during the political turmoil in Bangladesh, which had led to the removal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. She had to leave the country due to the political instability.
On October 9, Shakib wrote on his Facebook page:
“First of all, I want to pay tribute to all the students who sacrificed their lives, led the anti-discrimination movement, and those who were martyred or injured during the rebellion. No sacrifice can compensate for the loss of a loved one, and nothing can make up for the loss of a child or a brother. To those of you who were hurt by my silence during this period, I respect your feelings and sincerely apologize.”
During this time, he also conveyed a message to his Bangladeshi fans: “You all know that I will be playing my last match soon… I want to bid farewell among all of you. At the moment of goodbye, I want to shake hands with those whose applause inspired me to play better. I want to meet those who celebrated when I played well and whose eyes filled with tears when I didn’t. I believe you all will be with me during this farewell.”
After the two-match Test series against South Africa, the Bangladesh team will depart for the UAE, where they will play a three-match series against Afghanistan. Since Shakib is also part of the ODI team, he will leave the country once the team departs.
Also Read- Rinku Singh Height, Age, Girlfriend, Family, Net Worth, Biography
Also Read- Temba Bavuma Height, Age, Wife, Stats, Net Worth, Biography
Shakib’s International Cricket Record
The 37-year-old legend has played 71 Test matches for Bangladesh, scoring 4,609 runs at an average of 37.78 and taking 246 wickets. He is one of Bangladesh’s most successful cricketers. Shakib has also played 247 ODIs and 129 T20 matches. In ODIs, he has scored 7,570 runs and taken 317 wickets.
In 129 T20 Internationals, Shakib has scored 2,551 runs and taken 149 wickets. He also has experience in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he has played 71 matches, scoring 793 runs and taking 63 wickets.
Bangladesh squad for the first Test in Mirpur on October 21: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Das (wicketkeeper), Zakir Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana.
