Iftekhar Expresses Confidence in Shakib’s Potential Role

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) remains receptive to Shakib Al Hasan’s potential return to the national squad, according to comments from board director Iftekhar Rahman.

Shakib Al Hasan, the former captain, recently participated in competitive cricket again after a six-month absence, playing three matches for Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 the previous week.

His bowling technique received approval from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) two months earlier, following its initial report in December of the previous year after his time with Surrey. This clearance allows him to bowl once more at the highest levels.

The BCB, however, had distanced itself from Shakib since the previous October. His most recent game for Bangladesh was the second Test match against India in Kanpur.

Prior to that match, the all-rounder voiced his intention to conclude his Test career on home soil against South Africa in October and that he was finished playing T20 Internationals.

Shakib was unable to make that final home Test appearance due to widespread student demonstrations. These protests came after the Awami League’s departure from power on August 5 after a 15-year tenure. Shakib is a sitting member of parliament representing the party.

He has not been back to Bangladesh since then, and the BCB has kept him off of national squads, even the Champions Trophy lineup.

The ECB also deemed his bowling action to be illegal across all formats during this time.

“The selectors and team management will always consider Shakib,” Iftekhar stated on Monday.

“He is an advantage to any team. He is a world-class cricket player. He has just gotten back from having his bowling motion fixed, so our team management will be monitoring him. It is certainly not [the end of our relationship with Shakib]. Following his suspension, he has only participated in a few games. I believe we can address the issue of his return once he has participated in a few more games,” he continued.

The 38-year-old has participated in three games for Lahore Qalandars in their victorious PSL season since having his bowling action cleared almost two months ago.

His performance, though, has been spotty, with two ducks and only one wicket taken.

Iftekhar’s remarks come amid growing worries about Bangladesh’s recent decline in performance. The team dropped a 2-1 T20I series to the UAE in Sharjah and is getting ready for another three-match T20I series in Pakistan.

The departures of seasoned players like Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah, who have both retired from all forms of the game, along with Mushfiqur Rahim’s restricted availability (only for Tests), have created a void in the squad.

Shakib’s status is still up in the air because he hasn’t officially quit ODIs, a format in which Bangladesh has recently dropped to tenth place in the ICC rankings.

“It is a relatively new team without the four senior players (Shakib, Tamim, Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah),” he stated.

“The team is lacking something. Although I believe we have talent among the current players, they are not using it effectively. I’ve mentioned it before, but the more they play, the better they’ll get. I believe the only direction we can go from our present position is up,” he came to the conclusion.