Shakib Al Hasan will play in the upcoming South Africa series, as far as the head coach Chandika Hathurusingha knows.聽
Shakib, who was dismissed without scoring in the second innings of the Kanpur Test, earlier expressed that he would want to play in the first Test against South Africa in Mirpur and then bid farewell to this format.聽
Bangladesh will play two Tests against the Proteas starting in Mirpur on October 21.
鈥業 haven鈥檛 heard anything to the effect that this is the last time [we鈥檝e seen Shakib play in Tests]. As far as I know, I think he鈥檚 playing the South Africa series at home,鈥� Hathurusingha told reporters at the end of the Kanpur Test on Wednesday.
No matter what, Shakib has played his last overseas Test as per his announcement. The journalists from Bangladesh who have been covering the India series have even felicitated him on Tuesday.聽
There鈥檚 also posts circulating in social media with a picture that says that Virat Kohli has gifted Shakib a bat as a token.聽
Whether Shakib has played in his last Test, this question has arisen for his political involvement. A former member of the parliament of the now-fallen Awami government, Shakib, also stated that he wanted his security and a safe exit from Bangladesh. He has an alleged murder case filed against him.聽
Bangladesh Cricket Board president Faruque Ahmed later dismissed the idea of giving one individual such security. He stated that it鈥檚 up to the government.聽
The advisor of the ministry of youth and sports, Asif Mahmud, earlier said that Shakib 鈥� the player 鈥� would get full security. But he also said that, as a politician, Shakib cannot be assured of his security.聽
鈥楽hakib Al Hasan has two identities; we have to remember that. He鈥檚 an identity as a player, and the other is his political identity. He contested the election from the Awami League. People have mixed feelings about that,鈥� said Asif on Monday.
鈥楢s a player, we will give him the necessary security he needs. If he comes to the country, then we will give him that.鈥櫬�
Before the Kanpur Test, Shakib also said that, as for now, he thought he had played his last T20I in the last World Cup.
He hinted that he鈥檇 keep the door open if the team needed him in the future. He also said that he鈥檇 continue to play in the ODIs until the Champions Trophy in Pakistan in February next year.聽
Shakib was not picked in the T20I series against India, which begins on October 6 in Gwalior.
The members of the squad who were not part of the Test team left for India on Tuesday. The next two matches will be held in New Delhi on October 9 and Hyderabad on October 12.