IND vs BAN: Can Shakib al Hasan play his farewell test at home? BCB struggles with security assurance
Xtra Time Web Desk: Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan's plans to play his final Test in front of a home crowd at Mirpur have been thrown into uncertainty. Shakib had expressed his desire to retire from Test cricket after the upcoming series, but with a condition—he wanted his security to be ensured. However, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director Faruque Ahmed has admitted that the board cannot guarantee the star player’s safety.
Faruque explained that while the BCB was aware of Shakib’s wish to retire after the South Africa series, the matter of security was out of the board’s control. “We don't have it (Shakib's security) in our hand. The security needs to come from the government, and he will have to take his own decision. We cannot say anything about his security,” he told reporters at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
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Faruque further clarified that neither the BCB nor he personally could ensure security, stating, “I am neither an agency nor police or the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). The security issue needs to be cleared by the government.”
Despite this uncertainty, Faruque emphasized that they wanted to support Shakib through his personal challenges and respected his decision to play his last Test in Mirpur, though it was ultimately up to the authorities to address the security concerns.
"He is going through a tough time. He felt this is the right time for him to play his last Test, and we have shown respect to his decision."
Earlier, BCB had assured that Shakib would face no obstacles in returning to the country to play the two-match Test series against South Africa. If the security concerns aren’t resolved, Shakib’s final Test could have already taken place during Bangladesh’s recent tour of India in Kanpur.
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