Shakib Al Hasan to Return for Farewell Test Against South Africa

Shakib Al Hasan, who recently announced his retirement from Test cricket, is set to return to Bangladesh by Thursday to play his farewell match against South Africa. He has formally communicated his decision to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and is eager to participate in the upcoming Test.

Although Shakib has kept his exact arrival date under wraps, he is expected to join the team before the start of the practice sessions ahead of the first Test, scheduled for October 21 at Mirpur's Home of Cricket.

Despite facing legal issues, including being named as the 28th accused in a murder case linked to the death of a garment worker during a student protest, both the BCB and government officials have assured him of full security upon his return. Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, the youth and sports advisor, confirmed that Shakib would receive top-level security and that there would be no barriers to his return.

The legal troubles arose after the father of the deceased, Rubel, filed a case against several individuals, including Shakib. Following this, BCB announced that Shakib would continue playing for the national team as long as he is not proven guilty.

Shakib has been abroad for an extended period, participating in various tournaments, including the Major League Cricket (MLC) and Canada’s Global T20 League, before joining the Bangladesh squad for their assignment in Pakistan. After the series, he briefly returned to England for county cricket before heading back to the US to spend time with his family.

Fans and teammates are eagerly anticipating his return for what promises to be an emotional farewell match.