Shakib to ponder ODI return after Abu Dhabi T10

DHAKA, Nov 21, 2024 (BSS)-Shakib Al Hasan will think about his return to ODI cricket for the Bangladesh national team after the completion of the Abu Dhabi T10 tournament. 

The allrounder will be leading Bangla Tigers in the tournament which kicked off today.

"I will think about it (ODI return) after this tournament," the allrounder answered with a cheeky smile during a captains' press conference in Abu Dhabi yesterday when he was asked about his ODI return for Bangladesh again.

Shakib's Bangla Tigers will take on Samp Army in their first match. The final of the tournament will take place on 2 December. 

Shakib's Test career seemed to have ended abruptly after he was not available for the South Africa Test at home, due to fear of public backlash for his political involvement with the Awami League Government, which was ousted amid a student-led mass uprising.

Earlier during the Kanpur Test in India, he said that if he is not able to play the South Africa Test at home, the Kanpur Test will be his last.

He also announced his retirement from the T20 cricket but expressed his desire to continue the ODI format till the 2025 Champions Trophy. He, however, was not available in Afghanistan ODI series.

Shakib played his last ODI against Sri Lanka during the 2023 World Cup in India.

Bangladesh is currently in the West Indies for a full bilateral series that includes all three formats of cricket.

While the team gears up for the Test series at this moment, the three-match ODI series will begin on December 8. Bangladesh in fact has no ODI series scheduled before the Champions Trophy apart from these three ODIs against West Indies.

So it looked imperative for Shakib to play these three ODIs if he wants to make him available for the Champions Trophy.

While the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is yet to clear the air regarding his participation in the ODI series in the West Indies series or the Champions Trophy, Shakib also remained tightlipped. 

"All focus on this tournament (at this moment)," Shakib said when his attention was drawn to his plans for the 2025 Champions Trophy.

But he spoke elaborately on Bangla Tigers' ambition for the Abu Dhabi T10 tournament.

"The plan for the tournament is up in the sleeve, we can't reveal it publicly," he said, adding that the goal of his team is to clinch the trophy.

"All the teams are really strong here and they will try to be champions. We have the same goal as well. We'll try our best. I think we have a well-balanced side."