Is Shakib Al Hasan in, or is he out? For days, this question has circulated in Bangladesh cricket circles, and the board meeting at the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Wednesday (30 October) finally provided an answer.
Ahead of the meeting, BCB President Faruk Ahmed confirmed that Shakib will indeed participate in the series.
Bangladesh is currently hosting South Africa for a Test series on home turf, and soon after, the team will head to the United Arab Emirates to face Afghanistan. The three-match ODI series against Afghanistan is set to commence on 6 November.
Questions had emerged around Shakib's availability due to his recent announcements and previous commitments. The ODI format, however, remains one from which Shakib has not retired, and BCB President Faruk Ahmed addressed the matter today, confirming his participation.
“Shakib is available for selection in the ODI series against Afghanistan,” Ahmed stated. “Since the team has not been finalised yet, his availability stands.”
Shakib had previously indicated an interest in retiring after the first Test match against South Africa, which the BCB had included him in. However, concerns over security led to a change in plans, and his intended return to Bangladesh was ultimately cancelled amid rising protests. This cancellation had cast doubt on his continued role in the squad.
Today's announcement by the BCB president, however, clarifies that Shakib’s participation is assured for the Afghanistan series, indicating no issues with him joining the team for matches abroad.
