In what could be the final chapter of his illustrious Test career, Bangladesh’s star allrounder Shakib Al Hasan has been forced to pull out of the first Test against South Africa, scheduled to begin on October 21 in Dhaka. Shakib, who had hoped to bid farewell to his home crowd, is unable to return to Bangladesh due to ongoing political unrest and safety concerns.
The 36-year-old was traveling from New York, where he has been staying recently, after a stint in Bangladesh tour of India last month. Shakib was asked to wait in Dubai while in transit, as he faced difficulty in returning home due to protests and political instability in Dhaka. The situation, which has seen Shakib caught up in controversy, has cast uncertainty over his planned farewell appearance in what was supposed to be his final Test match on home soil.
Shakib, who has represented Bangladesh in over 60 Test matches, had previously expressed his desire to retire from Test cricket during the ongoing series, with the home Test against South Africa marked as his potential farewell. However, due to the current situation, he has not been able to make it back to his country since August when the Awami League government resigned after 15 years in power. Shakib, a member of parliament with the Awami League, has faced increased scrutiny and protests in Dhaka and has even been named in a police FIR related to an alleged murder during the unrest.
As a result, Shakib has been replaced by uncapped left-arm spinner Hasan Murad, who has been in the national cricket system and will make his Test debut in the absence of the veteran allrounder. The 23-year-old Murad has impressed in first-class cricket, taking 136 wickets in 30 matches since his debut in 2021. Although he has played two T20Is, this will be his first Test appearance, and he is expected to add balance to Bangladesh’s bowling attack, especially in home conditions.
“We have been informed that Shakib is unavailable for the first Test,” said Gazi Ashraf Hossain, chairman of Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) national selection panel. “He is at the end of his Test career, and while we do not have someone of his calibre to replace him, Hasan Murad has been consistently performing in first-class cricket and is capable of making an impact at this level.”
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The second Test between Bangladesh and South Africa is scheduled to take place in Chattogram from October 29.
Shakib’s absence from the series is not only a blow to Bangladesh’s cricket team but also to fans hoping for a fitting farewell for one of the greatest players in the country’s history. The allrounder has been a pivotal figure in Bangladesh’s cricketing success for over a decade, excelling with both bat and ball. His career has spanned multiple formats, and he has earned numerous accolades, making him one of the most recognizable names in international cricket.
For now, the cricketing world will await Shakib’s eventual return to Bangladesh, while Hasan Murad steps into the spotlight with the weight of a historic Test series on his shoulders.
