Is this final chapter of cricket epic named Shakib?

Shakib Al Hasan, widely known as the "poster boy" of Bangladesh cricket, enjoys creating a bit of mystery and taking pleasure in it. Let’s imagine symbolically—if he throws a boomerang, it will swirl around, amaze everyone, and return effortlessly to him. He loves showcasing this kind of surprise and skill, finding immense entertainment in it.

When it comes to creating twists and turning them to his advantage, Shakib has no equal. This is a hallmark of his personality. Behind his mischievous smirk often lies a tendency to stir things up. And then, there’s his magical ability to turn the impossible into possible. Even on the cricket field, what he does next often seems to depend on his whim—either he'll unleash a torrent of runs with the bat or weave magic with the ball. Sometimes, he excels in both arenas.

When it comes to innate talent, Shakib Al Hasan embodies it perfectly. Not only in Bangladesh but also in international cricket, he has achieved milestones that no one else in the country has come close to. There’s considerable doubt whether another Shakib will emerge in the future. But time eventually runs out for everyone, and when that happens, magic no longer works.

The cricketing sun named Shakib is now setting. His potential retirement from international cricket has been a topic of recent discussions. He hinted at this earlier when he mentioned retiring from all forms of cricket by next year, before heading off to the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA in June.

Although there was much discussion about his retirement right after the World Cup, Shakib left it hanging. After venturing into politics, playing cricket was no longer his top priority. He has already become involved in various activities, some of which have sparked controversy. Therefore, it's only natural for him to be the target of criticism. In such a situation, where’s the space for focusing on cricket?

But Shakib isn’t one to tread the straightforward path. He finds no peace unless he creates some sort of surprise. Just before playing the second Test of the series in Kanpur, he unexpectedly and officially announced that he has already played his last T20 match—at the T20 World Cup in June. As usual, though, he left a bit of a Shakib-style mystery. If his personal performance improves and the cricket board desires it, he could return to play T20 cricket. Is that possibility still realistic?

The news that his cricketing career will come to an end at the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan early next year is already old. But will everything go as planned? Additionally, there was talk that he might retire from Test cricket during tours to Pakistan or India. Yet, midway through the India tour, Shakib announced that he would end his Test career next month during the home series against South Africa. However, this series hasn’t been confirmed yet. Isn’t this yet another reflection of Shakib’s mysterious nature? Even though he has mentioned playing at home, how realistic is that given the current circumstances? Will he get the chance?

Many are frustrated with Shakib because of his position as a member of parliament for the fallen Awami League government. He has been charged with murder. With the looming threat of this case over his head, can he even return to the country? If he is arrested upon return, it wouldn’t be a surprise. Moreover, there’s a real possibility he might be dealt with harshly. Would he want to take that risk?

Shakib knows the possible outcome very well. Even so, he made his move and waited for a counter move. He has now received a definitive answer. The confidence he had in returning to play a Test match in Bangladesh has been dashed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board president, Faruk Ahmed, who bluntly stated, “Shakib's security is not in our hands. He has to make the decision himself. We cannot say anything from the board. The BCB doesn’t have the capability to provide personal security for an individual.” After this, will Shakib have anything left to do?

Shakib has taken on many tough challenges on the cricket field and emerged successful. But the political field is much hotter and more perilous. He is a novice player in that arena. If we analyze his life so far, it’s clear that he lacks the strength, capacity, and courage to take risks in politics. Although there is no such thing as a final word in politics, it seems unlikely that this will apply to Shakib. He joined politics on a whim to add a feather to his cap. Though successful, he’s now paying the price.

Considering everything, it seems that Kanpur is set to be his last Test. It cannot be denied that nothing is currently in his favor. Any slip could see him facing trial. How can anyone play cricket under such mental strain? And beyond that, how long can he continue playing as an expatriate? For some reason, it feels like this will be the final chapter of the cricket epic known as Shakib in international cricket. Will we see him play for Bangladesh again? What does Shakib Al Hasan say?

Dulal Mahmud: Editor, Fortnightly Sports Magazine Krirajagat