In a remarkable turnaround, Shakib Al Hasan wasted no time shifting his attention back to the cricket field, barely 24 hours after securing victory in the national election for his constituency, Magura-1.

The star all-rounder made a surprise appearance at the indoor nets in Mirpur yesterday afternoon, catching media and onlookers off guard. While many national players had already wrapped up their individual sessions, Shakib’s unexpected return kept a group of journalists and fans lingering at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) until sunset.

Surrounded by well-wishers and greeted with flower garlands from the groundsmen, Shakib downplayed his political role within the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) premises, emphasizing that the cricket field remained his primary domain.

“This is not politics. This is a cricket field. I am still holding the same old position [as a cricketer],”

he conveyed to the groundsmen.

Clearly eager to resume activities in his familiar cricketing territory, Shakib arrived equipped with a brand-new bat, ready for an indoor net session. His childhood mentor, Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, oversaw his batting practice.

Having been sidelined with a finger injury since the ICC ODI World Cup game against Sri Lanka, Shakib missed the Test series against New Zealand and the subsequent tour of New Zealand. In a recent interview, he confirmed his return to action with the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League, scheduled to kick off on January 19.

Despite his political engagement in Magura, Shakib maintained some physical activity, preparing for his cricket comeback. Yesterday marked his return to batting with cricket balls in the nets. Fahim reported,

“Yeah, no complaints regarding his finger while he was batting. I haven’t seen him bowl yet, but once he does that, I will be able to tell. His batting looked really good.”

As reporters observed from a distance, the satisfying sound of Shakib’s bat echoed his enjoyment of being back in the cricketing arena after the demands of politics. Fahim addressed potential rustiness, stating,

“Yes, there can be doubts within himself since he doesn’t get this kind of gap [in cricket activities]. So, once he gets into his groove, it becomes okay in no time.”

The current No.1 all-rounder in ICC’s ODI and T20I rankings engaged in training exercises on the SBNCS field, running across the turf and incorporating soft-ball deliveries into his rehabilitation process. A BCB official mentioned,

“There is still some pain in the finger, but it’s not a matter of concern since 70-80 percent of the pain has gone away. With a dedicated focus on strengthening his finger, he should be in good shape ahead of the BPL.”

After winning the election, the new MP arrived in a car with a new bat and went into the indoor facilities this afternoon to prepare for the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). He’s returning to training after being sidelined with an injury for a few weeks. Today, he’s expected to train with his childhood mentor Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, who arrived before him. The Awami League candidate for Magura-1 constituency won the election with a total of 185,388 votes.

Shakib Al Hasan, the captain of the Bangladesh cricket team, won a seat in the country’s Parliament during the general elections on Sunday, January 7. Contesting from Magura-1 for Awami League, Shakib secured a significant victory in the elections, which were boycotted by the opposition. He defeated his closest rival, Kazi Rezaul Hossain, by a margin of 1,50,000 votes, with Hossain securing 45,993 votes. Shakib took a break from cricket to focus on his election campaign. Before the polls, he expressed that while there were challenges, he was not facing any serious barriers.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also secured another term for Awami League, with her party winning 200 out of the 300 parliamentary seats. Although the election commission stated that the Awami League might be proclaimed the winner based on the current results, the counting is still proceeding. The final announcement will be made after counting votes in the remaining constituencies.

Shakib’s last cricket appearance was in the ODI World Cup 2023, where he led Bangladesh to an eighth-placed finish. Bangladesh’s Champions Trophy spot was guaranteed by this outcome, despite the team’s lackluster record; Sri Lanka and the Netherlands were not included. Following the World Cup, Bangladesh played against New Zealand in two different tours, one at home and one away, but Shakib did not participate in any of these assignments

Jalal Yunus, Chairman of the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s cricket operations committee, expressed satisfaction that Bangladesh’s ‘Poster Boy’ is committed to playing for the country full-time rather than participating in franchise leagues.

“Obviously [good news]. I saw his statement in the media. It is good news that now he is focusing more on country’s cricket than outside franchise cricket. This is great news for us. We want Shakib to play for our country as many versions as we have here,” Jalal told media in a press meet.

In recent years, Shakib hasn’t consistently played for the national team due to injuries, franchise commitments, and personal leave. However, he now aims to focus entirely on representing the country in cricket. Despite previous statements about stepping down as the ODI captain after the World Cup, the Bangladesh Cricket Board director clarified that Shakib remains the captain in all formats.

“Reconsideration part does not come here. Still, he is our captain, now we have given Shanto (Najmul Hasan). We told Shanto that there are two series ahead which is the New Zealand series, that’s why we gave him the captaincy,”

“Shakib has been captained for a long time. Still he is the captain of all those editions. We assume that he is the captain. Now there is no question whether he will be the captain or not. He knows he is still the captain” added Jalal.

Shakib won’t be playing in the upcoming home series because of a finger fracture he got during the ODI World Cup. The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s doctor, Debashis Chowdhury, mentioned that they need to wait for three weeks to reevaluate Shakib’s injury. After this period, they’ll check the X-ray and decide on his rehabilitation program. If all goes well, he might return to the field in about three to four weeks.

The Bangladesh team is set to go to New Zealand for a series on December 11 or 12, but Shakib won’t be joining them due to his condition. He’ll miss out on playing 3 ODIs and T20s during that trip.

On another note, Shakib has applied for nomination forms from the ruling party Awami League to contest in three constituencies for the upcoming 12th parliamentary elections on January 7, 2024.

In a thrilling World Cup 2023 match in Delhi, Bangladesh’s captain, Shakib Al Hasan, sparked controversy and refused to backtrack on a contentious decision. Here’s the story behind the uproar:

During the match, Shakib appealed for a timed-out dismissal against Angelo Mathews. Despite being urged by experienced umpires Marais Erasmus and Richard Illingworth to withdraw the appeal, Shakib stood his ground. Even the fourth umpire, Adrian Holdstock, inquired twice if Shakib would reconsider, but he remained resolute in his decision. Consequently, Mathews became the first cricketer in international cricket history to be given a timed-out dismissal.

The controversial call hinged on Rule 40.1.1 of the ICC’s playing conditions, which state that after a wicket falls or a batter retires, the incoming batter must be prepared to receive the next ball within two minutes of the dismissal or retirement, unless time has been called. Failure to meet this requirement will result in a timed-out dismissal.

Shakib defended his actions, emphasizing that he was merely following the rules of the game. When questioned about the spirit of cricket, he suggested that those who take issue with the decision should petition the ICC to amend the rules. In a post-match press conference, he asserted,

“I appealed to the umpires…I won’t call him back.”

He continued,

“It’s in the laws. I don’t know if it’s right or wrong, but I had to make a decision to make sure that my team wins, and whatever I had to do, I have to do it.”

Shakib’s performance in the match was stellar, earning him the Player of the Match title for his 82 runs off 65 balls and 2/57 with the ball.

The controversy unfolded during the 25th over of the Sri Lankan innings. Mathews, due to a broken helmet strap, wasn’t ready to face his first ball within two minutes of the previous dismissal. Despite his quick actions to replace the helmet, more than three minutes had passed. When Bangladesh appealed, the on-field umpires decided not to retract the appeal, leading to Mathews’ dismissal, much to the dismay of the Sri Lankan team.

Mathews disagreed with the fourth umpire’s account, claiming that the Sri Lankan team possessed visual evidence showing that he had five seconds left on the clock when he reached the crease. He defended his actions, asserting the importance of player safety and common sense.

As far as the match was concerned, Bangladesh successfully chased down Sri Lanka’s target of 280 runs with 8.5 overs to spare, securing a victory with seven wickets in hand. The clash will undoubtedly be remembered for the contentious timed-out dismissal and the steadfastness of Shakib Al Hasan.