Veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been omitted from the Bangladesh squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against the West Indies, marking a notable absence in the country’s preparations for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
Shakib, who retired from Test and T20I cricket earlier this year, had hoped to play his final Test on home soil. However, security concerns thwarted his plans, as reported previously. While he expressed his intent to continue his ODI career until the Champions Trophy, he missed the recent ODI series against Afghanistan and now will also miss the West Indies series – the last opportunity for Bangladesh to fine-tune their squad before the prestigious event.
According to a member of the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) selection panel, Shakib’s absence from the West Indies ODIs was confirmed over the weekend. “He (Shakib) is not available for the ODIs against West Indies, and we have prepared our squad accordingly,” the official stated in an interview with Cricbuzz.
A BCB source further suggested that Shakib’s mental state might have played a significant role in his decision to step away from the national team for this series. Currently participating in the Abu Dhabi T10 League for the Bangla Tigers, Shakib’s focus is reportedly diverted towards franchise cricket. “Given his current mental state, we felt Shakib isn’t in the right condition to play. Playing franchise cricket is not the same as representing the national team,” the official added.
It is understood that Shakib has opted to prioritize his commitments in the Lanka T10 League, where he is signed up for the Galle Marvels, starting December 12. This move could signal Shakib’s desire to stay involved in the shorter formats of the game, though not with the Bangladesh national team for the time being.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh selection panel is still monitoring the fitness of two key players, Najmul Hossain and Towhid Hridoy, both of whom are recovering from groin injuries. BCB officials stated that they are awaiting medical reports before finalizing the squad for the ODI series. There is optimism, however, that Najmul will be ready for selection by the third ODI, provided his recovery continues as expected. Towhid, who sustained his injury while playing football, underwent a scan on Saturday, with the results yet to be announced.
The Bangladesh team is currently in the midst of a Test series against the West Indies, having lost the opening match by 201 runs. The second Test begins on November 30, before the team heads to St. Kitts for the three ODIs, scheduled for December 8, 10, and 12. The ODIs will be followed by three T20Is in St. Vincent from December 15 to 19, marking the conclusion of Bangladesh’s tour of the West Indies.
With Shakib absent and injury concerns surrounding other players, the Bangladesh squad for the West Indies series will be closely watched as the team prepares for its next major challenge at the Champions Trophy in 2025.
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