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| Sylhet Division, Bangladesh |
Shakib offers to return to Bangladesh if safety assured
NEW DELHI — August 7, 2026
Bangladeshi cricketer Shakib Al Hasan says he is ready to return home, face court proceedings and resume his international career if the government guarantees his safety. The former captain has been living abroad since the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government in 2024.
Shakib, 39, was a lawmaker for Hasina's Awami League and has not played international cricket since leaving Bangladesh. He said he still hopes to play a farewell series at home and represent Bangladesh at the 2027 one-day World Cup before retiring.
His possible return comes as Bangladesh continues to deal with the political fallout from Hasina's removal. The former prime minister's allies have faced criminal cases, while Shakib himself is facing charges that include an allegation linked to the killing of a protester during the 2024 uprising.
Shakib said he would accept the legal process if authorities provide assurances that he would be protected. He also said he wants to speak directly with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman about returning to the country.
"I know I haven't done anything," Shakib said, while describing the cases against him as unfounded. He said he had previously asked government ministries and police authorities to review the charges but had received no response.
Hasina has been living in India since her government was removed in August 2024. She was later sentenced to death in absentia over the government's response to the protests, which the United Nations has said killed about 1,400 people. Hasina has said she and other Awami League figures plan to return to Bangladesh in December.
Shakib appeared by video at a Delhi press conference alongside Hasina earlier this week. His appearance was followed by an attack on his empty home in Bangladesh. He said he had used the event to call for peace and progress and did not regret taking part.
Bangladesh's government has rejected the idea that Shakib should receive special treatment. A spokesperson for Rahman said Shakib must face the country's legal system like anyone else and surrender to the courts.
Shakib said he has faced repeated obstacles to returning. In late 2024, he said he boarded a flight to Bangladesh after receiving assurances about his security but was told during the journey to turn back. He landed in Dubai before returning to the United States, where he lives with his wife and three children.
A later attempt to return also failed after he posted a birthday message for Hasina on social media. Shakib said authorities cited the message when preventing his entry, a decision he said he did not understand.
He has rejected suggestions that he should distance himself from Hasina or the Awami League to make a return possible. He said that was not something he would consider.
Shakib said two cases remain active against him. One concerns the alleged killing of a protester during the 2024 uprising, while another was filed by anti-corruption authorities. He said the murder case was filed while he was playing a match in Toronto and that he has not yet appointed a defense lawyer.
He also said his bank accounts have been frozen for about 18 months as part of an investigation, although he did not identify the banks or disclose the amount involved. He said he has not seen his parents in Bangladesh for two years.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Shakib said he remains motivated to continue playing cricket. He said he is still enjoying the sport and performing well but recognizes that his age limits how much longer he can continue.
His potential return would put Bangladesh's government in a difficult position as it balances legal proceedings involving figures associated with the former ruling party with the country's most prominent cricketer's desire to finish his career at home
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