Shakib al Hasan has surprised the cricket world by confirming that he wants to play all formats again before retiring. His U-turn from retirement marks the beginning of his Shakib al Hasan 3 Format Retirement plan, which he hopes to complete in front of home fans in Bangladesh.
Last year, just before the second Test against India in Kanpur in September 2024, Shakib announced his immediate retirement from T20Is. At the same time, he informed the BCB that he wanted to retire from Test cricket after the home series against South Africa in Mirpur. This was the first step of what later shaped into the Shakib al Hasan 3 Format Retirement idea.
But soon after that, political issues changed his life completely. When the Awami League government fell, Shakib lost his security clearance and could not return home. As a former Member of Parliament from the previous government, he has been unable to play for Bangladesh for more than a year. During this time, he lived abroad while his wish for a Shakib al Hasan 3 Format Retirement remained incomplete.
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Shakib Wants One Final Series in All Formats
Shakib said on the Beard Before Wicket podcast, featuring Moeen Ali, that he is not officially retired from any format yet. He made it clear that the Shakib al Hasan 3 Format Retirement dream is still alive.
He explained that he wants to return to Bangladesh, play one full series of Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, and then retire. According to him, the order of formats does not matter. What matters is completing the Shakib al Hasan 3 Format Retirement plan in front of the home crowd.
“My plan is to go back, play a full series in all three formats, and retire. Either way is fine with me,” he said. Shakib added that he will not continue after this final series because the Shakib al Hasan 3 Format Retirement is his preferred way to thank fans.
Shakib also said players usually stick to their words and that performance will not affect his final decision. Even if he plays a bad series, he still wants to complete the Shakib al Hasan 3 Format Retirement as a tribute to fans.
Earlier this year, Bangladesh’s sports adviser Asif Mahmud confirmed that Shakib would not be allowed to represent the national team after he publicly wished former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her birthday. Despite this, Shakib continues to hope that he will eventually be allowed to return and complete the Shakib al Hasan 3 Format Retirement journey.
Bowling Action Issues and His Time in Leagues
Shakib last played Tests in 2024 against Pakistan and India. While he stayed away from Bangladesh, he also faced another challenge when his bowling action was reported during his county stint with Surrey.
He admitted that he was extremely tired after bowling more than 70 overs in a match against Somerset. Because of this, his action changed slightly, which led to his suspension. This incident briefly affected the timeline of the Shakib al Hasan 3 Format Retirement, as he had to undergo tests and corrective training.
Shakib said he failed his first test but quickly returned to normal after two training sessions with Surrey.
Even during these difficulties, Shakib continued playing in franchise leagues to maintain fitness. He believes staying active is the only way to be ready for the Shakib al Hasan 3 Format Retirement, which he hopes will take place soon.
Despite political barriers, action issues, and time away from the national team, Shakib remains determined. His goal is simple: return home, play in all three formats one last time, complete the Shakib al Hasan 3 Format Retirement, and say goodbye to the fans who have supported him throughout his journey.
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