The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president, Faruque Ahmed, has stated that the board cannot guarantee Shakib Al Hasan the personal security he requested in order to play his final Test match at home. Shakib, who announced earlier today that the Dhaka Test against South Africa in October will be his last, raised concerns about his safety upon returning to Bangladesh.

Shakib’s final Test in doubt amid security concerns

Shakib Al Hasan, one of Bangladesh’s cricketing icons, expressed his desire to play his last Test match on home soil, provided that Cricket South Africa (CSA) proceeds with the tour of Bangladesh. However, uncertainty surrounds the tour due to political unrest in Bangladesh during July and August, which led to the deaths of hundreds of people in anti-government protests.

Shakib, who was a member of parliament in the Awami League-led government—the target of these protests—has not returned to Bangladesh since the fall of the government on August 5. The cricketer was named as one of 147 individuals in a murder case linked to the protests. With these legal and security challenges in mind, Shakib requested the BCB to provide assurances of his safety if he returns for the Test.

Speaking on the matter, BCB president Faruque Ahmed clarified that the board cannot ensure Shakib’s personal security, stating, "Shakib's security is not in the board's hand. The board can't provide an individual with personal security. He has to take a decision on that. His security has to come from the highest level of the government."

BCB’s limited role in security and Shakib’s future

Faruque also emphasized that the BCB is not a security agency, such as the police or Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and therefore lacks the authority to handle matters related to Shakib’s legal case. "Since his case is a sub-judice matter, we can't really do much about it," he added.

Despite these concerns, Faruque acknowledged the emotional weight of Shakib’s decision but refrained from attempting to change his mind. “Shakib is going through a difficult phase of his life. I didn't try to talk him out of the retirement. He thought that this was the right time for him to retire. I respect his decision," he said.

Shakib’s legal standing in Bangladesh remains uncertain, but Bangladesh’s law adviser, Asif Nazrul, previously commented that he hopes Shakib would not face arrest if he returns to play. This sentiment was echoed by the BCB's cricket operations chief, Shahriar Nafees, who expressed confidence in Shakib’s safety based on these assurances from government officials.

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During a press conference in Kanpur, Shakib reiterated his concerns about safety. "I am a citizen of Bangladesh, so I shouldn't have any problem going back to Bangladesh," he said. "But my concern is my safety and security in Bangladesh. My close friends and family members are concerned. I hope things are getting better. There should be a solution to it."

As Shakib’s potential final Test looms, the cricketing world awaits to see whether he will be able to fulfill his wish of bidding farewell on Bangladeshi soil. For now, his future remains uncertain, contingent on both the CSA tour and assurances from the highest levels of government regarding his safety.