Shakib Al Hasan remains at the centre of Bangladesh cricket discussions, even while away from the country. Since last month, speculation has grown over his potential return to the national team. Rumours suggested he might rejoin during the upcoming ODI series against Pakistan, but that will not take place.
On Thursday, coach Sohel Islam addressed the media in Mirpur. When asked if he would be surprised to see Shakib in the squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup, he replied:
“No, why would I be surprised?”
Sohel explained that once Shakib’s ongoing legal matters are resolved, there is no barrier to his selection:
“Once these issues are cleared, Shakib is always a strong option for us. There is nothing unusual about him playing. His quality as a player is unquestionable.”
The coach also highlighted the importance of giving opportunities to new talent ahead of the World Cup:
“We are currently in ’26, then ’27 follows. It’s not a long period, but there are many ODIs during this time. Rather than relying on a very small group of players, we should keep options open. The selectors, head coach, and cricket operations will decide in which series to test these players. A bigger bench provides more opportunities, and by 2027, we aim to build a strong, competitive squad.”
