Shakib Al Hasan is a doubt for his final Test appearance due to safety concerns amid protests against him in Dhaka.
Having already retired from T20I cricket, the upcoming Mirpur Test between Bangladesh and South Africa is set to be Shakib's final match in the format. He also confirmed that the 2025 Champions Trophy will be his final ODI assignment for Bangladesh.
However, there was always a sense of uncertainty about him playing his farewell Test at home, given the backlash against him amid the political upheaval in Bangladesh, which saw thousands dead in anti-government protests.
Shakib has previously expressed concerns about travelling to Bangladesh after he was named as an accused in a murder case, which also involved the prime minister Sheikh Hasina and ministers of the former ruling party Awami League.
Sajid Khan took a sly dig at the selectors for ignoring him after his game-changing spell on day two against England.
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) October 17, 2024
Read here ➡️ https://t.co/IN4TbAGikn pic.twitter.com/cxdoEO93Pe
Despite being named in the squad for the series opener starting October 21, Shakib has now said he will likely not be travelling to his country to play in his last Test.
"I am not sure where I am going next, but it is almost sure that I am not going home," Shakib told ESPNcricinfo.
Last week, the all-rounder issued a public apology to his fans for his silence during the political turmoil in Bangladesh
"I respect your feelings and sincerely apologise. I want to say goodbye to all of you around. At the moment of farewell, I want to shake hands with those whose applause compelled me to play better," he said.
But the decision now means the Kanpur Test against India might well be the final match of Shakib's Test career.
Follow Wisden for all cricket updates, including live scores, match stats, quizzes and more. Stay up to date with the latest cricket news, player updates, team standings, match highlights, video analysis and live match odds.
