Shakib Al Hasan has not returned to Bangladesh since 5 August 2024, has not played for the national team, and has stayed away amid political pressure and legal cases, yet the Bangladesh Cricket Board now wants him back on a central contract, as confirmed in Dhaka on Saturday through senior board officials.
The board framed the debate in blunt terms. BCB director Asif Akbar asked, “There are two or three examples in Bangladesh. One is Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. He is staying in Bangladesh. Another cricketer also stayed after 3 August. If these two can stay, why can’t Shakib Al Hasan?” The logic cuts straight through the noise and shifts the conversation from politics to precedent.
Asif leaned hard on Mashrafe’s case for context. Mashrafe served as an MP under the Awami League government and still lives in Bangladesh without disruption. Asif used that reality to argue that Shakib’s return should not trigger fear or hesitation.
The board also chose to separate cricket from the courtroom. Asif made that line clear when he said, “How Shakib’s personal legal issues will be resolved is a matter for the government. From the board’s side, we want Shakib.” That stance allows BCB to claim focus on cricket while quietly passing responsibility elsewhere.
BCB’s plan goes beyond symbolism. Asif confirmed, “We have proposed keeping Shakib on the list of centrally contracted players.” That single sentence explains why this story matters, because a central contract signals trust, value, and future involvement.
Asif anchored the decision in legacy rather than convenience. He said, “Shakib was a Bangladesh player before he became a member of parliament. His name will be written in golden letters in Bangladesh cricket.” The board wants to restore that status rather than erase it.
He also revealed a personal angle behind the move. “Shakib wants to come back and retire in the country,” Asif said, before adding the line that defines BCB’s thinking: “Shakib is a brand. We will not get a player like him in another hundred years.” That is praise, but it is also a strategic admission.
The media committee chairman Amzad Hussain added practical detail. He explained, “When the board contacted Shakib, we asked whether he could play both home and away series. Shakib said he wants to play, and from there the decision was taken.” That statement suggests intent from both sides, not a one-way rescue mission.
