Bangladesh’s ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan announced his retirement from the longest format of the game. The cricketer addressed media ahead of the second and final Test against India in Kanpur, where he announced his decision to hang up boots from the red-ball format. Not only this, but Hasan also announced his retirement from T20Is with immediate effect. The Bangladesh veteran has played for his side in every edition of the T20 World Cup since its induction in 2007.
During the press conference ahead of the second Test, the 37-year-old revealed that he wishes to play his last Test in Mirpur against South Africa. Not only this, but he also said that if it doesn’t happen, the Kanpur Test against India would be his last red-ball match. As quoted by PTI, Shakib said, “I have expressed my desire to play my last Test in Mirpur, if that won’t happen, the second Test against India would be my last.”
Bangladesh cricket has given me so much: Shakib Al Hasan
The cricketer expressed his gratitude towards the Bangladesh cricket and said, “Bangladesh cricket has given me so much, and I want to give my last in this format at home.” Notably, Shakib Al Hasan made his red-ball debut for Bangladesh against India in Chattagram in May 2007, and since then, he has played 70 long-format matches for the side.
Shakib amassed 4,600 runs for his side, including five hundreds and 31 fifties, and holds the record for being the third-highest run-scorer in Bangladesh’s Test history. Speaking of his T20I career, Shakib had earlier hinted that he had played his last T20I match during the T20 World Cup 2024. He was featured in 129 T20I matches and scored 2,551 runs at a strike rate of 121.18. He claimed 149 wickets across 126 innings and recorded the best figures of 5/20.