Shakib Al Hasan Plans a Final Home Series Before Retirement: All You Need to Know

 

Bangladesh cricket legend Shakib Al Hasan has revealed his plan to play one final home series in all three formats—T20Is, ODIs, and Tests—before retiring from international cricket. After a period away due to political and security issues, Shakib is staying fit by playing in franchise leagues. His goal is to give fans a memorable farewell and conclude his illustrious career on a high note in front of the home crowd.

Shakib Al Hasan’s Last Hurrah: Planning to Retire with a Full Home Series

Bangladesh cricket legend Shakib Al Hasan has surprised fans by announcing a change in his retirement plans. After previously stepping away from T20Is and hinting at retiring from Tests, Shakib now wishes to play one final full bilateral series in all three formats—T20I, ODI, and Test—before bidding farewell to international cricket. His goal is to retire in front of the Bangladeshi fans who have supported him throughout his career.

Shakib Al Hasan first announced his T20I retirement in September 2024, just before the Kanpur Test against India. He had also expressed his plan to retire from Test cricket after the subsequent home series against South Africa, subject to security clearance. However, Shakib was unable to return home due to political circumstances following the fall of the Awami League government, keeping him away from international cricket for over a year.

During his time away, Shakib Al Hasan has stayed active in various franchise leagues around the world. In a candid interview on the Beard Before Wicket podcast with Moeen Ali, Shakib confirmed that he is not officially retired from all formats. “I am officially not retired from all formats. This is the first time I’ll be revealing that,” he said. He stressed that staying fit and in form is essential for making his dream of a final home series a reality.

Shakib Al Hasan outlined his retirement plan: he wants to play a complete series in all three formats, whether starting with T20Is, ODIs, or Tests, and then retire immediately afterward. “It doesn’t matter if I play well or not. I might have a bad series, but I don’t need to continue after that,” he added. He emphasized that this approach is his way of giving back to the fans who have always supported him.

Shakib’s career has not been without challenges. In 2024, he faced scrutiny for a suspect bowling action during his county stint with Surrey, which he attributed to fatigue from bowling excessive overs. He later corrected his action and resumed bowling without issue. Additionally, political tensions have prevented him from representing Bangladesh in recent years, with government officials confirming restrictions on his participation.

Despite these setbacks, Shakib remains determined to end his international career on a high note at home. Fans eagerly await the announcement of the series, which promises to be a fitting farewell for one of Bangladesh’s greatest all-rounders.