Bangladesh’s senior all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has announced his retirement from T20 internationals and hinted that the upcoming Test against India in Kanpur might be his final red-ball match. This news came during a press conference before the second Test between India and Bangladesh. Shakib expressed his wish to conclude his Test career in front of his home crowd in Mirpur, stating, “I have expressed my desire to play my last Test in Mirpur; if that doesn’t happen, the second Test against India would be my last.” He added, “Bangladesh cricket has given me so much, and I want to give my last in this format at home.”

Interestingly, Shakib’s Test debut was also against India, occurring in Chattogram in May 2007. Over his career, he has played 70 Tests for Bangladesh, scoring 4,600 runs, including five centuries and 31 half-centuries, making him the third-highest run-scorer in the country’s Test history—a position he is likely to hold when he retires.

On the bowling front, Shakib is Bangladesh’s all-time leading wicket-taker in Test cricket, with 242 wickets to his name. He is the only bowler from the country to surpass the 200-wicket mark in Tests, solidifying his status as one of Bangladesh’s greatest all-rounders.

T20I Retirement

Earlier, Shakib had hinted at his retirement from T20 internationals during the T20 World Cup and confirmed it in the press conference. He played 129 T20I matches for Bangladesh, scoring 2,551 runs at a strike rate of 121.18. His impact with the ball was even more significant; in 126 innings, he took 149 wickets, just one shy of the 150 mark, with his best bowling figures being an impressive 5/20. His final appearance for Bangladesh came during the T20 World Cup, where he played against Afghanistan in the Super Eights stage in June.