Bangladesh cricket has landed in fresh trouble, and this time the storm is around Shakib Al Hasan’s possible comeback to the national fold. Tamim Iqbal has expressed his shock with the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) sudden soft stand for the veteran all-rounder.
Tamim Iqbal questions BCB’s sudden soft stand on Shakib Al Hasan
The former Bangladesh captain said that the move must be honest and not just a quick cover-up after the T20 World Cup 2026 drama. Tamim made it clear that Shakib’s return should happen only if the decision is clean and taken for the betterment of Bangladesh cricket.
He feels both the Bangladesh government and the BCB must be fully clear before allowing Shakib back into the national side, saying such decisions should not be taken just to please fans or reduce public anger, because Shakib’s contribution to Bangladesh cricket cannot be treated casually.
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Tamim Iqbal was quoted as saying by India Today: “If the government gives the green signal, then it’s fine. If they think he is still capable of playing, then you let him play. But if you are telling this just for eyewash, then don’t do this. Because I believe he deserves respect.”
Timing of Shakib Al Hasan’s return raises serious doubts over BCB’s intentions
Shakib has been away from the Bangladesh cricket team for more than a year and has reportedly stayed outside the country for almost 18 months due to political storms. That is why the BCB’s sudden announcement that he could play again surprised many people.
The timing has raised even more questions. The BCB media committee chairman, Amzad Hossain, confirmed Shakib’s possible return on the same day Bangladesh lost its place in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 and Scotland was named as the replacement.
Many believe the board was trying to shift attention away from the embarrassment. Adding to the confusion, the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s stand has clearly changed. Earlier, officials had said Shakib had no chance unless he apologized and showed regret.
Now, the same officials said that the former captain and ace all-rounder is free to play if fit. This sharp U-turn has left fans wondering whether this is really about cricket or just damage control.
Politics, Court Cases and Comeback Hopes: The Shakib Al Hasan Story
Meanwhile, Shakib, who is one of the rare cricketers who was the number one-ranked all-rounder in all three formats at the same time, has not returned to Bangladesh since August 2024, after the Sheikh Hasina government fell. At that time, he was playing in a T20 league in Canada.
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As a former Awami League MP, the former Bangladesh captain feared public anger and did not get any clear security assurance from the interim government. Because of this, he shifted to the United States and stayed away from the international game, where he has already amassed over 14,000 runs and taken more than 700 wickets across all formats of the game.
His problems did not stop there. Shakib was also named in a murder case linked to the police action during the 2024 protests. In January 2025, a court also issued an arrest warrant against him over bounced checks worth more than 300,000 US dollars related to his agro farm business.
In March last year, the court ordered his assets to be seized. The situation became worse in September 2025 when he wished the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her birthday. After that, the interim government’s sports adviser, Asif Nazrul, said Shakib would never play for Bangladesh again. Then came a shocking turn this week when the BCB said he can be considered for selection in the home and away series if he is fit and available.
