Sports Desk

Bangladesh ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan expressed his desire to retire from the Test cricket after the home series against South Africa next month.

Shakib told the reporters at Kanpur today that he’s keen to bid adieu to the Test cricket at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur in October 2024.

“If he is unable to feature in South Africa Test at home, the second and final game of the ongoing series against India, beginning tomorrow (Friday) in Kanpur will be his last game in the longest format cricket for Bangladesh,” he told reporters.

“It's my desire (to retire) after the South Africa Tests at home. I've shared it with the BCB president and the selectors,” he said.

Sakib continued saying, "BCB is agreed with me and they said they are trying to organize everything in the best possible way so that I can feel safe.

“I want to go back to Bangladesh and play those two Test matches or the match in Mirpur to finish my Test career there,” he said.

“And, if I come to play the Test series at home, it should be ensured that I can go out of the country safely,” he noted.

“It’s my desire to play my last Test match at home but if that doesn’t happen, and then this Kanpur Test will be my last in this format,” Sakib said.

Sakib didn’t reveal about his ODI cricket plan clearly. But he had announced his retirement immediately after the T20 International cricket against Afghanistan at Kingstown, West Indies in June last.

"I felt I have done with T20 cricket. I played my last T20 match in the World Cup.. I've discussed this with the selectors and the board.”

Sakib said, he was looking for 2026 T20 World Cup. But, now he thinks this is the right time for him to move on and BCB will look into inject some new players.

“I hope they will find some great players and they will perform well in the 2026 World Cup," Sakib said.

The schedule of the South Africa series is yet to be announced. The Cricket South Africa sent a team to assess Bangladesh’s security arrangement and things looked that they are happy with everything.

Shakib was a member of parliament of the Awami League-led government, which was ousted following a student-led mass uprising. Since the fall of the Awami League-led government on August 5, Shakib has been facing complications. Since then he has not been in the country as he was charged with a murder case.

“Since there's a lot of happening back home, naturally not everything depends on me,” Shakib said elaborating his own security concerns.

"I am a citizen of Bangladesh, so I shouldn't have any problem going back to the country but my concern is my safety and security in Bangladesh.

“My close friends and family members are concerned about me. I hope things are getting better and there should be a solution to it,” Sakib said.