 "Shakib Al Hasan announced his Test and T20I retirements ahead of IND vs BAN 2nd Test in Kanpur. Image: PTI")
Bangladesh cricketing great Shakib Al Hasab surprised quite a few reporters and cricket fans on the eve of the second India-Bangladesh Test in Kanpur as he announced that it could be his last Test match. The star all-rounder also confirmed his retirement from T20Is.
In the pre-match press conference, Shakib said that he plans to retire from Test cricket after the end of next month’s series at home against South Africa in Mirpur, but if he fails to play in the series, the second Test against India could be his last international match in the longest format of the game.
“I have expressed my desire to play my last Test in Mirpur, if that won’t happen, second Test against India would be my last,” Shakib was quoted by PTI. “Bangladesh cricket has given me so much, and I want to give my last in this format at home.”
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The 37-year-old Shakib has not been to Bangladesh since the protests began and the Sheikh Hasina government was toppled in August. Shakib was a part of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League Party and has been named in a murder case in Dhaka along with 147 people.
At the T20 World Cup 2024, Shakib had hinted it could be his last and now the confirmation of retirement from the shortest format has come. He played in 129 T20Is, scoring 2,551 runs at a strike rate of 121.18, and also took 149 wickets.
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In 70 Tests so far, Shakib has scored 4600 with a highest of 217 and has 242 wickets to his name.