Former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has withdrawn his retirement from both Test and T20I cricket, stating that he now wishes to return to international cricket across all three formats. The announcement comes as a crucial shift from the decision he took last year, when he stepped away from the Test and T20I formats. Shakib has not featured in international cricket for more than a year. His previous decision to retire from Tests and T20Is was confirmed last year.
First, in September 2024, when he announced on the eve of the second Test against India in Kanpur that he was quitting T20Is with immediate effect. At that time, he also notified the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) of his intention to retire from Test cricket following the home series against South Africa scheduled in Mirpur the following month, pending security clearance to participate.
Meanwhile, following the fall of the Awami League government, Shakib, who had been serving as a Member of Parliament during the former administration, was unable to secure permission to return safely to the country.
"I am officially not retired from all formats. This is the first time I'll be revealing that. My plan is to go back to Bangladesh, play one full series of ODI, Test, and T20, and retire," Shakib said on the Beard Before Wicket podcast.
"I mean, (I can) retire from all formats in a series. So it can start from T20I, ODI and Test, or Test, ODI, T20I. Either way, I'm fine, but I want to play a whole series and retire. That's what I want."
Shakib expressed hope to return to Bangladesh.
"I am hopeful. That's why I'm playing (T20 leagues). I think it will happen."
Currently, Shakib is busy playing for different franchises in cricket leagues around the world.