Bangladesh’s cricketing stalwart, Shakib Al Hasan, has announced his retirement from T20 Internationals and hinted that the second Test against India in Kanpur could be his final red-ball match as well. This surprising revelation came during a pre-match press conference ahead of the second Test between India and Bangladesh, leaving fans and cricket enthusiasts reflecting on the illustrious career of one of Bangladesh’s greatest all-rounders.
Shakib Al Hasan expressed his desire to play his last Test match in front of his home crowd in Mirpur, a fitting end for a cricketer who has been instrumental in shaping the nation’s cricketing fortunes. “I have expressed my desire to play my last Test in Mirpur. If that doesn’t happen, the second Test against India will be my final match,” Shakib stated, as quoted by PTI. He added, “Bangladesh cricket has given me so much, and I want to give my last in this format at home.”
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Shakib’s Test journey began against India in Chattogram back in May 2007, and it’s poignant that his potential farewell could come against the same opposition. Over his 16-year-long career in Test cricket, he has played 70 matches, amassing 4,600 runs with five centuries and 31 half-centuries, placing him as the third-highest run-scorer in Bangladesh’s Test history.
Shakib Al Hasan’s international career is winding down, with ODIs the only format he will continue playing after October 2024 https://t.co/1TnxUouvMG pic.twitter.com/E5WPcwDN9i
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) September 26, 2024
His prowess isn’t limited to just batting; he also stands as the highest wicket-taker for Bangladesh in Tests, with 242 wickets to his name. Shakib remains the only Bangladeshi bowler to surpass the 200-wicket milestone in this format, cementing his status as a true legend of the game.
Shakib had previously hinted at his T20I retirement during the T20 World Cup and has now confirmed it. With 129 T20I matches under his belt, Shakib amassed 2,551 runs at a strike rate of 121.18. His impact with the ball, however, was even more significant.
Across 126 innings, he took 149 wickets, just shy of the 150 mark, with his best figures being 5/20. His final appearance came during the T20 World Cup’s Super Eights stage against Afghanistan in June. As Shakib contemplates the end of his storied career, the cricketing world will undoubtedly remember him as a transformative figure in Bangladesh cricket, whose contributions extended far beyond the numbers.
