Shakib Al Hasan's much-anticipated return to Bangladesh has been halted due to security concerns. The Youth and Sports Ministry, through its advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, confirmed that Shakib was advised not to return to the country amidst the current political and social tensions.

Shakib was initially scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on the night of October 17, ahead of the first Test against South Africa, where he was expected to bid farewell to Test cricket. However, uncertainty over his return began circulating in the media the night before. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had instructed Shakib, who was in transit in Dubai, not to board the flight to Dhaka following directives from the Sports Ministry.

Asif Mahmud explained the reasoning behind this decision in an interview with AFP, stating, "I personally wanted Shakib Al Hasan to retire on home soil, and we had made all the necessary arrangements. However, given the growing public dissatisfaction with Shakib’s perceived association with the ruling government, it became clear that his presence could fuel further unrest. While Shakib addressed these concerns in a social media post, it appears that the efforts were insufficient to quell the anger among some sections of the public."

He added, "I have advised Shakib not to come [to Bangladesh] to avoid any untoward circumstances. This decision was made to ensure the safety of players and to protect the country's image. We believe that all disputes should be resolved legally, and everyone must respect the law."

Recent days have seen increasing protests against Shakib outside the BCB headquarters. Protesters have gone so far as to burn effigies of the star cricketer. On October 17, demonstrators submitted a formal petition to the BCB, demanding Shakib's exclusion from the national team. Their pressure seems to have worked, as Shakib will now not be returning to the country, at least for the time being.

The first match of the three-Test series between Bangladesh and South Africa is scheduled to begin on October 21 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.