Former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has taken a U-turn on his retirement from Tests and T20Is. Missing from Bangladesh team for over a year, Shakib intends to bid goodbye to international cricket by playing an all-format bilateral series at home.
"I am hopeful (to return to Bangladesh) and that's why I am playing (to retire in front of home crowd) and I think it will happen and that's the reason, the only reason I am playing (is to stay fit and stay in shape so that I can make me available for international cricket)," Shakib said on the Beard Before Wicket podcast, which featured former England all-rounder Moeen Ali.
"I am officially not retired from all formats. This is the first time I'll be revealing that.
"My plan is to go back to Bangladesh, play one full series of ODI, Test, and T20, and retire. I mean, [I can] retire from all formats in a series. So it can start from T20I, ODI and Test, or Test, ODI, T20I. Either way, I'm fine, but I want to play a whole series and retire. That's what I want," he said adding that he will not continue further after the series.
"I think when a player says something they try to stick to their words. They normally don't change it all of a sudden. It doesn't matter if I play well or not. I might play a bad series after that, if I want to play. But I don't need to do that.
"I think this is enough. It's just a nicer way to say bye to the fans that they supported me always, give something back to them, playing a home series," he added.
However, a few months ago, Bangladesh's sports advisor Asif Mahmud had made it clear that Shakib would not be allowed to represent the country as the 38-year-old wished former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her birthday. Shakib's last Test appearance was against India in Kanpur. He hasn't played international cricket since. The southpaw played in the T20 World Cup 2024. The only format he had not retired from was in ODIs. He hasn’t played an ODI since ODI World Cup 2023.
Shakib in action for MI Emirates
Currently, he is representing MI Emirates in the ILT20 2025. He retired out for a 12-ball 16 in his first appearance in the season and then went for 27 runs in two overs. He ended up on the winning side as Sharjah Warriorz fell short of the 186-run target by five runs.
Shakib plans a return to the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has registered for the IPL 2026 mini-auction.