United News of Bangladesh

Former Bangladesh cricket captain and  ex-lawmaker Shakib Al Hasan announced he is shifting his entire focus back to cricket, expressing a strong desire to conclude his international career representing the national team. The veteran all-rounder, who has been excluded from the national squad since the Awami League government collapsed in August, 2024, clarified his position in a statement posted to his verified Facebook page on Monday. He acknowledged that while politics remains a crucial vehicle for national development, his immediate priority is delivering peak performances on the pitch.  "At this late stage of my career, I want to give my absolute best for the Bangladesh national team," Shakib wrote. He added that while he intends to contribute to the country's progress after retiring, his current hope is to "finish my cricket career with a smile, wearing the red and green jersey." Shakib served as a Member of Parliament under the ousted Awami League administration. Following the regime's fall, he faced intense public backlash and navigating several legal challenges stemming from his political affiliation. Although he previously scheduled a return to Bangladesh to participate in a home series under the interim government, mounting political pressure forced him to abruptly cancel those plans. In a recent media interview, Shakib noted that his political party currently maintains no active operations, prompting his renewed commitment to the sport. Behind the scenes, several directors within the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have indicated they are exploring avenues to facilitate his return to the squad despite the lingering political sensitivities.  Widely regarded as one of the most successful all-rounders of the modern era, the 39-year-old has amassed more than 14,500 runs and claimed over 700 wickets across 447 international appearances for Bangladesh.  

Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal has said Shakib Al Hasan will only be able to resume his national career if he comes back to the country and faces the legal cases pending against him. Speaking on a cricket podcast this week, Tamim — who is preparing to contest the upcoming Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) election — was asked about Shakib’s chances of returning to the national side. The two men, once close teammates, have been seen on opposite ends of the country’s cricket and political landscape. Shakib confirms move to US Minor League, joins Atlanta Fire Shakib, who was an MP of the Awami League government toppled in last year’s July uprising, has been living abroad since and faces multiple cases, including a murder charge. “He’s an active cricketer, he’s a Bangladeshi cricketer,” Tamim said. “If he is fit, training, and the selectors feel he deserves a place, of course he can return. But bringing him back isn’t in my hands — there are legal matters involved.” Tamim stressed that the board cannot intervene in court case. “To play for Bangladesh, he must first come back, train with the team, and fight his cases in court. That’s the reality. I won’t hide it. This is his country and his career. What he chooses to do is up to him,” Tamim added.  Shakib, now 38, has not played for Bangladesh since 2024. His uncertain future continues to hang over the team at a time of political upheaval and transition in cricket administration.

After a recent successful bowling reassessment in Loughborough, Bangladesh star allrounder Shakib Al Hasan has been given the green light to resume bowling in competitive cricket by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).  After this decision, Shakib is now available to resume his bowling in domestic and international cricket, where he has not been available since September last year.    The all-rounder, who had never previously been reported for a suspect action in his two-decade-long career, was first called for an illegal action during a County Championship match while representing Surrey against Somerset. Subsequent tests confirmed the irregularities, and that led to his suspension from all formats under ICC regulations.   Shakib's road to clearance was not straightforward. He initially failed two separate assessments— one in Loughborough last year and another in Chennai this January.  Following these setbacks, he was out of Bangladesh’s Champions Trophy team. Earlier, he had said that he would retire from international cricket after this event.  A statement from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed that Shakib had “successfully remedied his action,” paving the way for his return to the bowling crease in domestic and franchise leagues. With the ECB’s clearance, he is now eligible to bowl in the upcoming County Championship season and The Hundred, where his all-round skills have made him a sought-after player. It’s not clear if Shakib wants to extend his career in international cricket. With two years to go ahead of the 2027 World Cup, he may rethink and extend his plan. His availability as a bowler could be a great option for the Bangladesh team.  

Star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has signed with Legends of Rupganj for the upcoming Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League (DPDCL) amidst uncertainly about whether he will be able to play given the current political atmosphere. After the India series last year, Shakib was supposed to return home to play his last Test against South Africa at home, but due to the political shift last year, he was unable to come. Nahid brings pace and promise as Bangladesh ready for Champions Trophy Test After that, he was supposed to play in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) for the Chittagong Kings but was ultimately unable to play. Along with all these, he faces restrictions on his bowling due to action testing. Despite all these challenges, Legends of Rupganj have signed the ace all-rounder. National Athletics: 3 more national records created on day-2 The Rupganj management confirmed his signing. Now, it remains to be seen whether Shakib will be able to play in this year's Dhaka League.  

Star allrounder Shakib Al Hasan and wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das were left behind as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday announced their squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy taking place next month in the UAE and Pakistan. This could mark the end of Shakib’s international career. The allrounder recently faced a big setback too, when the ECB reported his bowling action as illegal. A subsequent bowling test confirmed issues with his action, making him ineligible to bowl. If the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) wanted to include him in the team, they would have to take him solely as a batter. However, in recent times, Shakib hasn't delivered anything significant with the bat to justify playing him as just a batter. Along with Shakib and Litton, Bangladesh will also miss Tamim Iqbal's service. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto had expressed his desire to have both Shakib and Tamim in the fold, but due to different circumstances, both are missing out. Tamim recently confirmed his retirement from international cricket and said he is no longer coming back to the Bangladesh team. Bangladesh added Parvez Hossain Emon and Nasum Ahmed to the squad. Parvez, a left-handed top-order batter, has impressed in limited-over cricket over the past few years, while Nasum came to the fore as a left-arm spinner aiming to fill up the void left behind by Shakib’s absence. Bangladesh overlooked Hasan Mahmud. The right-arm pacer has been impressive in the ODIs, taking 31 wickets in 23 matches. But the selectors chose Nahid Rana over him. Left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam was also overlooked due to his lean patch recently. Gazi Ashraf Hossain, the chief national selector, said they will have to wait more for Shoriful’s best rhythm. “He suffered a blow in Canada and has since managed to come back. But we have to wait more to get his best,” Gazi Ashraf said. In the absence of Litton, Parvez may open the innings for Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy. He played 7 T20Is but is yet to make his debut in ODIs. Gazi Ashraf said they considered Parvez for his ability to score quickly in the powerplay. Overall, Bangladesh opted for a balanced team mix of experienced and young players. In their first match, Bangladesh will face India on February 20th in Dubai. In the second match, Bangladesh will face New Zealand in Rawalpindi on February 24, and in the third and final match in the group stage, Bangladesh will lock horns with Pakistan in Rawalpindi on February 27th. Bangladesh squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Mushfiqur Rahim, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah Riyad, Somuya Sarkar, Parvez Hossain Emon, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana.

Bangladesh superstar Shakib Al Hasan, one of cricket's greatest all rounders, has been barred from bowling in international cricket and domestic competitions, following an independent assessment at an ICC-accredited testing centre in the United Kingdom. The suspension, effective immediately, draws on one applying to competitions under the jurisdiction of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) that came to light recently. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has now been made to understand the wider implication of that ban. Victory Day friendly cricket on Monday in Mirpur According to a BCB media release, it has received communication from the ECB confirming that the suspension is in line with clause 11.3 of the ICC regulations for illegal bowling actions. According to this regulation, if a player is banned from bowling by a National Cricket Federation, the suspension is automatically enforced in international cricket and all other domestic competitions globally. ICC member countries' boards however may override the ban and allow someone in Shakib's position to bowl in competitions under their jurisdiction. It's a bizarre turn of events for the Bangladesh cricketer, who has plied his trade for at least 17 years in international cricket without raising eyebrows over his action. During this time, he has taken over 700 international wickets, including 246 in Test cricket. For him to be barred from bowling at the age of 37 suggests something has changed in his action. While Shakib is barred from bowling, he remains eligible to play as a batter in all formats of cricket. The BCB said that Shakib will soon undergo reassessment at an ICC-accredited center, and a clearance would allow him to resume bowling in international cricket and in competitions governed by other National Cricket Federations. Bangladesh add Nahid Rana to T20I squad against West Indies “The BCB is in regular contact with the ECB, the ICC, and the player throughout this process,” the board said in its media release, mentioning that no further comments would be made at this time. Shakib’s bowling action was initially flagged during his participation in a competition under the ECB’s jurisdiction. The ICC-accredited testing revealed irregularities, leading to his suspension. However, as per clause 11.4 of the ICC regulations, a successful reassessment could overturn the decision. Shakib’s forthcoming reassessment will determine when he can resume bowling. Until then, Shakib is expected to continue to play as a batter.  

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said that it is unfortunate that Shakib Al Hasan cannot play the Test series against South Africa starting on October 21 in Dhaka. Bangladesh's interim government advised Shakib, who was a member of the government toppled by a student-citizen movement in August, not to come to the country now due to the security threat posed by the protesters. Bangladesh's new coach urges Tigers to focus on cricket amid chaos “It’s unfortunate,” Shanto said about Shakib’s absence in the Dhaka Test, which he said would be his last appearance in the longer format of the game. “It should have happened. But we all know why it didn't happen.” The Bangladesh captain also said they are now focusing solely on cricket. “I would say that it was unfortunate, it should have happened (Shakib’s participation in the Dhaka Test). But we all know why it didn't happen. But we don’t want to talk much about it before a Test match. I want everyone to focus on cricket.” Bangladesh captain also said it is difficult for Bangladesh to set up a combination when Shakib is not available. Anger against Shakib not unwarranted: Asif Nazrul “We can use an extra bowler or batter (when Shakib plays). But we cannot do anything talking about it much. What we can do is to focus on cricket,” Shanto added. Bangladesh played 14 Tests against the Proteas but never won. But this time, Shanto says, the result can be changed if they can play according to plan and execute their game well on the field.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) added Hasan Murad to the Test squad for the first match of the two-Test series against South Africa, starting on October 21. Hasan Murad, a left-arm spinner, replaces Shakib Al Hasan, who could not return home to play the match in Dhaka due to concerns for his safety from public anger. BCB terminates Hathurusinghe's contract; appoints Phil Simmons head coach Shakib was a member of the previous government toppled by the student movement in August. The 23-year-old Murad has taken 136 wickets in 30 first class matches since his debut in 2021. “We have been informed that Shakib is unavailable for the first Test,” Chairman BCB Gazi Ashraf Hossain, the chairman of the BCB selection committee, said. “He is at the end of his Test career, but along with his experience, we still do not have someone of that calibre with both bat and the ball to replace him.” He also added that Hasan Murad’s first-class history indicates that he can do well at home as a spinner. ‘Wished for Shakib’s retirement on home soil': Adviser Asif Bangladesh squad for Dhaka Test vs South Africa: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (WK), Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana, Hasan Murad,

Amidst concerns over facing possible public anger for his role in the student-led protests that ousted Bangladesh’s iron-fisted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh cricketer Shakib Al Hasan said he is not coming home to play a Test match in Dhaka, which he said his last match in the format.  This made the last Test of the series between India and Bangladesh in Kanpur the last Test of Shakib’s career.  Before that match in Kanpur, Shakib announced his retirement from the longest format of international cricket and expressed his desire to play his last Test in front of the home crowd in Dhaka. But this wish is about to remain unfulfilled.  In an interview with bdnews24 from Dubai, Shakib—on a transit stop during his journey back—addressed his change of plans. “I was supposed to return home, but now I might not be able to do so due to security issues, for my own safety,” he said. It’s clear that Shakib was forced to cancel his plan due to ongoing protests about his homecoming. A group of protesting students burned his effigy on Wednesday at the University of Dhaka. Another group planned to submit a letter to BCB urging them to prevent Shakib from entering the stadium. Shakib's silence during the student-led protest against the Sheikh Hasina government led to this situation. The toppled administration led by Sheikh Hasina tried to quell the protest using deadly weapons that eventually left at least 1000 killed.  Shakib’s homecoming in limbo as protest threat looms large Despite being one of the most celebrated cricketers in Bangladesh’s history, Shakib was silent during the protests, which triggered an angry reaction from the protesting students, who expected Shakib to stand by them. But Shakib, who was also a member of the Awami League government, posted his happy pictures on social media during the protests, which  fueled the anger against him.  When Shakib announced his retirement in Kanpur, he also expressed concerns about his safety if he returned home. He urged the board to ensure his safety during his stay in Dhaka. But the board and the sports ministry reacted in tough words. The sports ministry was led by a student leader, Asif Mahmud, who was among the top organizers of the porters. He is one of the two student leaders who were appointed as advisers in the current interim government.  Later, the sports adviser said they would ensure security for Shakib when he returned home. However, the government changed its stance in reaction to the ongoing protests against Shakib.  A high-ranking government official confirmed Wednesday night that Shakib was advised to forgo his plan to return due to the current political climate. This situation suggests that Shakib’s Test career may now have reached an unofficial end.  

After winning the toss and electing to bat first in the first ODI of the three-match series against England in Mirpur on Wednesday, Bangladesh lost four wickets for 106 runs in just 22.4 overs. The last two wickets- Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan- fell in a span of three overs and 11 runs. Both of them fell prey to spinners— Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali. Mushfqiur had a poor run in the middle once again. Before skying a catch to Mark Wood, he played 33 balls to score only 17 runs. It was a well-tossed-up delivery from Adil, Mushfqiur went for a slog sweep, but it was a half-hearted attempt. He was taken easily at the deep mid-region by Mark Wood. Mushfiuqr has only a fifty in his 10 ODI innings. Moeen dismissed Shakib in a similar manner to how Adil dismissed Mushfiqur, except for one crucial difference: Shakib was unable to make contact with the ball during his attempted slog sweep, resulting in the ball smashing into his stumps and sending one of them flying. Also read: Bangladesh opt to bat in first ODI vs England Tamim Iqbal made a steady start but was unable to maintain his momentum, while Litton Das struggled and had a brief stint on the pitch. Tamim managed to score 23 runs, while Litton fell for just 7. The pace bowling duo of Mark Wood and Chris Woakes proved to be a challenging obstacle for the Bangladesh openers.