Shakib still in “consideration of the selectors” should he wish to play for Bangladesh again in the future.
Shakib still in with a chance to represent Bangladesh if he chooses to.
According to board director Iftekhar Rahman, the BCB has left the possibility of Shakib Al Hasan rejoining the Bangladesh squad open.
Iftekhar was questioned regarding Shakib’s decision to don the national colours, primarily in light of Bangladesh’s recent slump in performance. Before travelling to Pakistan to play another three-match T20I series, they recently suffered a 2-1 defeat to the United Arab Emirates in the Sharjah T20I series.
“Shakib will always be in the consideration of the selectors and the team management,” Iftekhar said on Monday. “He is an asset for any team. He is a world-class cricketer. He has just returned after correcting his bowling action so our team management will keep track of him. It is definitely not [the end of our association with Shakib]. He has only played a few matches after his suspension. Let him play a few more matches, I think then we can answer the question [of his return].”
Last week, Shakib, 38, played three games for Lahore Qalandars in the PSL 2025, marking his comeback to competitive cricket after over six months away. After being reported in December of last year after making an appearance for Surrey, Shakib had been cleared by the ECB to bowl in top-level cricket two months prior.
Since October of last year, the BCB has likewise avoided Shakib. Shakib’s last appearance for Bangladesh was during the second Test match against India in Kanpur at that time. Prior to that game, Shakib had said that he was done with Twenty20 Internationals and that he intended to play his final Test match at home against South Africa in October.
However, because Shakib was a member of parliament for the Awami League, the political party that was overthrown on August 5 after 15 years in power, political turmoil in Bangladesh prevented him from making that last visit. Since then, Shakib has not been back in Bangladesh, and the BCB has ignored him in the series that followed, excluding him from the Champions Trophy squad as well. At that point, Shakib’s bowling action was deemed dubious by the ECB.