Dhaka will come to a standstill if I return: Shakib Al Hasan

Former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has made comments about his return to the country and his stardom in a recent interview. He claimed that if he returns, the commotion among his fans and supporters would be so immense that it could effectively paralyse Dhaka city. Shakib said it is this fear of a massive public gathering that is preventing some from allowing him to return home .

In the interview, Shakib expressed hope that once the situation normalises, he would return to the country within a short time, appear in court to fight his legal battles, and take a dignified farewell from the field wearing the Bangladesh jersey .

Shakib Al Hasan has been unable to return to the country since the political change on August 5, 2024. The former Awami League MP is currently living in the United States with his family and has been playing in overseas franchise leagues. Multiple cases have been filed against him in Bangladesh .

Although he announced his retirement from international cricket and expressed his desire to play his final Test on home soil, his return was blocked before the South Africa series in October 2024, citing security concerns .

In earlier interviews, Shakib had said the main obstacles to his return were security concerns and the ongoing legal proceedings. He had also said he would like to return soon if he could get assurances that he would not be harassed . He had expressed optimism that a resolution to the situation might be possible by the end of this year .