BCB to decide on Shakib’s future after India tour

Shakib Al Hasan is set to travel to England for the County Championship after the Test series against Pakistan.

The experienced all-rounder had already secured a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the previous board, led by Nazmul Hassan Papon, to play in England’s domestic cricket.

Shakib will not return to Bangladesh before next month’s tour of India, and the BCB will decide on his situation after that series, according to BCB President Faruque Ahmed.

Shakib has been abroad for an extended period. After playing in the T20 World Cup last June, the left-handed all-rounder returned to Bangladesh briefly before heading to the United States, where he played in the Major League Cricket (MLC). He then captained the Mississauga Tigers in the Global T20 Canada. After completing the tournament, Shakib joined the team in Pakistan directly on 14 August.

Shakib has played in nearly all the major global leagues, often staying abroad for extended durations.

Additionally, his wife and children reside in the United States, which has granted him some leniency in terms of national team camps and training sessions. As a result, Shakib has often avoided trouble despite his absences.

However, this time, the discussion around Shakib’s return to the country is different. He has been named as a defendant in a murder case related to the killing of garment worker Rubel, accused of ordering the killing during an anti-discrimination student movement. Rubel’s father, Rafiqul Islam, filed the case on 22 August, naming Shakib as the 28th accused. Following this, a Supreme Court lawyer sent a legal notice to the BCB, urging them to drop Shakib from the team and bring him back to Bangladesh.

Despite this, the BCB is standing by Shakib. BCB President Faruque Ahmed stated a day earlier that Shakib would continue to play for the national team unless proven guilty. He also mentioned that the board would provide legal support to the veteran cricketer.

After today’s board meeting, Faruque reiterated the same stance regarding Shakib, saying, “We are still where we were with Shakib’s issue. If the case doesn’t go anywhere, he will be able to play. We’ve made that