Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has expressed uncertainty about his participation in the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, scheduled to take place in the UAE from November 6.
Shakib, who had hoped to play his last Test at home against South Africa, announced his retirement from both Tests and T20Is during the Kanpur Test against India in September.
However, he did not return to Bangladesh for the match against the Proteas due to security concerns.
Despite facing accusations related to a murder case during the unrest that led to the fall of the government while playing against India, Shakib continued in the series as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) allowed him to represent the national team until he was proven guilty.
Initially, the board assured him there would be no issues if he returned to Bangladesh for the South Africa series, but later changed their position, prioritizing safety after the ICC Women’s World Cup was relocated from Bangladesh to the UAE.
Although Shakib announced his retirement from shorter and longer formats of the game, he is aiming to compete in the Champions Trophy next year to conclude his international career.
As such, he was expected to participate in the ODI series against Afghanistan and the subsequent series against West Indies to prepare for the global event.
However, he stated that he has yet to receive any communication from the board about his future.
“How can I say whether I will be playing the ODIs against Afghanistan or not? The BCB should provide that information,” Shakib told Cricpulse on Monday.
It is reported that he is willing to play for Bangladesh if selected, but some believe it may not be prudent to choose him given his recent overseas commitments.
Members of the BCB’s selection panel have confirmed to Cricpulse that they are unsure about picking Shakib, as they have not received any information from BCB officials, who are expected to make the final decision.
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