Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan’s desire to play his farewell Test on home soil suffered a big blow yesterday when he was excluded from the 15-member squad for the first Test against South Africa, scheduled to start on October 21 in Mirpur.

Salahuddin highlighted the player’s 17 years of service to the country, a legacy that has earned Bangladesh global respect.

Murad has claimed 136 wickets in 30 first-class matches since his debut in 2021.

Shakib Al Hasan’s homecoming took a complete U-turn yesterday as the all-rounder chose not to return to Bangladesh to play his farewell Test, seemingly heading the advice of the Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan.

South Africa had their first training session on Thursday ahead of the first of the two-Test series against hosts Bangladesh but the Proteas’ training was overshadowed by some off-field incidents at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan told ESPNcricinfo today that his return to the country was unlikely owing to protests against the 37-year-old in Dhaka, the venue for the first Test against South Africa, starting on October 21. 

There remains uncertainty over Bangladesh ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan’s return to the country tonight for his Test swansong.

After a lot of speculation and drama, ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is set to return to Bangladesh today to play his final Test -- the first Test of a two-match series against South Africa in Mirpur from October 21 to 25.

Despite all the speculations, Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is set to arrive in the country tomorrow, a Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) source confirmed to The Daily Star today. 

Amid all the speculation regarding Shakib Al Hasan’s last Test in Mirpur, the selection panel included the all-rounder for the Mirpur Test which is set to be his final match in the format. Shakib is set to arrive in Dhaka tomorrow. 

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan on Wednesday urged his countrymen to stay by his side during his final Test, which is likely to be against South Africa later this month on home soil.

Bangladesh Cricket Board president Faruque Ahmed expressed his hope that Shakib Al Hasan will be able to retire from Test cricket during the two-match Test series against South Africa at home later this month.

Bangladesh are set to play the first T20I in Gwalior against hosts India and there is expectation of quality cricket from the fans. The Tigers are however without Shakib Al Hasan, who recently in a bombshell press conference in Kanpur revealed that he had already played his last T20I match during the last T20 World Cup.

The Youth and Sports Adviser reassured that the interim government would provide the necessary protection for the 37-year-old all-rounder.

In a letter today, the anti-money laundering agency has requested that banks and non-bank financial institutions submit information on their accounts within the next five business days.

While there are still doubts about Shakib’s return, those close to the development feel that if the cases hanging over him are revoked, he will play the series.

India batters Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant gifted their bats to Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan after the second and final Test between the sides at the Green Park stadium in Kanpur on Tuesday. It was Shakib’s final away Test for Bangladesh who lost the match by seven wickets and went down 2-0 in the series. Kohli brought out his bat and gave it to Shakib and Pant followed suit as players from both sides started to gather for the presentation ceremony. Photo: BCB

Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha admitted that the gulf in skill and quality between his side and India led to the crushing defeat seven-wicket defeat in the second and final Test at the Green Park stadium in Kanpur. 

Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud yesterday said cricket superstar and former MP Shakib Al Hasan must clarify where he stands politically.

Shakib Al Hasan’s decision to call it quits in T20Is has created a massive vacuum in Bangladesh’s spin bowling department in the shortest format, one that would soon spread to the other two formats as well as he is set to retire from all forms of international cricket in the matter of months.