Bangladesh's star all rounder Shakib Al Hasan announces retirement

Bangladesh cricket legend Shakib Al Hasan officially announced his retirement from T20 internationals on Thursday, just before his team’s second Test against India in Kanpur. The 37-year-old all-rounder, who played in every T20 World Cup since 2007, finished the 2024 edition as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 50 wickets. Speaking to the press, Shakib also outlined his future in Test and ODI cricket.

Amid political unrest in Bangladesh, Shakib, a member of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League Party, has been under scrutiny for not returning to his country since August. He faces allegations in a murder case in Dhaka and cited security concerns as a reason for his prolonged absence. He indicated that while his preference is to play his final Test in Mirpur, it could be postponed due to these challenges. Otherwise, his last appearance in Test cricket would be the ongoing match in Kanpur.

Shakib also announced that the 2025 Champions Trophy will mark his final ODI appearance for Bangladesh. Known for his immense contributions to the game, Shakib is the only player with the unique achievement of 14,000 runs and 700 wickets in international cricket.

Shakib has been a stalwart for Bangladesh since his debut in 2006 and is third on the all-time list for T20I wickets. Additionally, he is one of two players to achieve the milestone of 7,000 runs and 300 wickets in ODIs, cementing his place among the cricketing greats.