Shakib Al Hasan says he’ll return house to face trial if security assured, however Bangladesh rule out cricket comeback.
Printed On 8 Aug 2026
Bangladesh have mentioned former star cricketer Shakib Al Hasan had no prospect of returning to play after he joined a media occasion with ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, a convicted fugitive.
Shakib joined the occasion by phone in New Delhi on Wednesday, the place Hasina addressed journalists, two years after she was compelled from energy following a lethal crackdown on student-led protests.
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Bangladesh Minister for Youth and Sports activities Aminul Haque mentioned the federal government had beforehand taken a extra open strategy in the direction of Shakib, who was a politician for Hasina’s former ruling Awami League celebration.
Shakib, who’s at the moment in Sri Lanka, was amongst dozens dealing with homicide investigations for a lethal police crackdown on protesters that toppled Hasina’s authorities.
“We had been trying on the matter with appreciable flexibility and tolerance. After this, I don’t assume there’s any room to assume that approach anymore,” Haque mentioned in a press release.
“Somebody who has taken the stage with the autocrat now not has any alternative to return.”
Shakib, 39, is Bangladesh’s most profitable cricketer and one of many nation’s best-known sporting figures. He has performed greater than 400 worldwide matches and represented Bangladesh at 5 World Cups.
Rights teams have lengthy accused Hasina’s former administration of abuses together with the homicide of rivals, suppression of opposition events, rigged courts and one-sided elections.
A courtroom in Dhaka discovered Hasina responsible in absentia in November 2025 of crimes in opposition to humanity and sentenced her to be hanged. She stays in hiding in India.
All-rounder Shakib introduced his retirement plans in September 2024 after his workforce’s second Take a look at in India however later mentioned he would play a full collection earlier than calling it quits.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board mentioned in January he might play once more, however his involvement within the occasion in India on Wednesday induced anger, with Shakib saying his home had been petrol-bombed in consequence.
On Thursday, Shakib mentioned he was ready to return to Bangladesh from his exile in Sri Lanka to face trial on costs together with homicide. He additionally mentioned he hoped to play for his nation once more on the 2027 Cricket World Cup, having led the workforce on the final version in 2023.
