It’s official – Shakib Al Hasan will never play for Bangladesh again. The country’s most decorated all-rounder, who carried the team’s hopes for nearly two decades, has been handed a lifetime ban by Bangladesh’s sports advisor Asif Mehmood.
The decision didn’t come on the back of poor form or disciplinary issues on the field. Instead, it was politics that cut short his international journey. Shakib, known for his loyalty to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and as a member of her Awami League party, became collateral damage after the recent power shift in Bangladesh.
The Political Twist
After the government changed, those associated with Sheikh Hasina were removed from key roles in sports bodies. Shakib, being one of her closest allies, was suddenly seen as a target. A simple Instagram post wishing Sheikh Hasina on her birthday ignited the controversy.
Following the post, Asif Mehmood openly declared on television that Shakib would never be allowed to wear the Bangladesh jersey again, stating:
“We will not let him raise the national flag again. For me, it is impossible to see him in a Bangladesh shirt.”
This was followed by a social media statement from Asif, indirectly referring to Shakib, which left little doubt about the finality of the decision.
Shakib’s Response
Shakib himself responded emotionally on social media, writing that he had been forced out, not retired. He hinted that one day he might return to his homeland but admitted that his international cricket career was now over. His words carried both frustration and affection:
“Because of one man, I cannot wear Bangladesh’s jersey again. Love you Bangladesh.”
His Stellar Career in Numbers
Shakib’s statistics make the decision even harder to digest for cricket fans:
- Tests: 71 matches, 4609 runs (5 centuries, 31 fifties), 246 wickets
- ODIs: 247 matches, 7570 runs (9 centuries, 56 fifties), 317 wickets
- T20Is: 129 matches, 2551 runs, 129 wickets
For years, Shakib stood tall as one of the best all-rounders in the world, often carrying Bangladesh single-handedly in big tournaments. Beyond international cricket, he shone in the IPL and leagues around the globe, becoming one of the most bankable names in T20 cricket.
