Despite retiring from T20 Internationals, former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan might continue playing in T20 leagues around the world. But will he be able to participate in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) at home?
This question has been raised by his BPL team, Rangpur Riders, who have yet to confirm Shakib's participation in the next season of the BPL due to uncertainty over his return home amid the risk of public anger related to his political identity.
Shakib was a member of the parliament under the Sheikh Hasina government, which was overthrown by an unprecedented uprising led by students and citizens. Facing this uprising, which resulted in at least 800 deaths and tens of thousands wounded by government forces, Sheikh Hasina fled the country on August 5th.
In the aftermath, Sheikh Hasina, along with Shakib and other party members, face legal action for the deaths of protesters, making Shakib vulnerable to both legal consequences and public backlash.
It is understood that this situation played a role in Shakib's decision to retire from two formats of international cricket. While he has kept himself available for ODIs, his participation in those for Bangladesh is now also uncertain given the political climate.
When announcing his retirement ahead of the Kanpur Test against India, Shakib mentioned his desire to play his last Test in Mirpur. However, he also expressed concern about his security at home, though he noted the board would be responsible for overseeing his protection.
However, the president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Faruque Ahmed, said that the board could not ensure the security of an individual player. He suggested that such assurances should come from high-ranking government officials.
Shakib’s return to Bangladesh became even more uncertain when the interim government's sports adviser said that they would provide the same level of security for Shakib as they would for other players. The adviser, Asif Mahmud, further added that no one could be guaranteed security if people in Bangladesh were against them.
Later, however, the adviser clarified that they would provide Shakib with the highest level of security so that he could play his final Test in the country.
All these factors have made Shakib's potential participation in the BPL uncertain. A top official from the Rangpur Riders, for whom Shakib played in the previous season of BPL, said they would only be able to confirm Shakib's inclusion if he returns home to play international cricket.