The hopes of seeing Shakib Al Hasan don the Bangladesh jersey again seem to have come to an end. The star all-rounder and former national captain had presented three demands to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to continue playing for the country. However, all three requests were declined by the board, making it highly unlikely that Shakib will represent Bangladesh in the future, including the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy.

Shakib, who faced significant backlash as a former member of the dissolved parliament, had previously expressed his desire to play a farewell Test on home soil but could not participate due to security concerns. Although he retired from Test and T20 cricket, Shakib had planned to continue playing ODIs and the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). For this, he demanded guarantees for his safety in Bangladesh, the release of his frozen bank accounts, and assurance of free travel in and out of the country. However, BCB rejected these demands, leading Shakib to opt out of the upcoming ODI series in the West Indies.

BCB president Faruque Ahmed has already approved the ODI squad for the West Indies tour, excluding Shakib. This series serves as the final assignment for Bangladesh’s ODI team before the ICC Champions Trophy, effectively confirming that Shakib will not feature in the tournament. The decision raises doubts about whether Shakib will ever play international cricket again.

Shakib’s troubles began after allegations against him led to the freezing of his bank accounts, creating financial stress. He reportedly asked BCB to intervene and help unfreeze his accounts in exchange for playing, but the board clarified that this was beyond their capacity. Consequently, Shakib has been unable to conduct regular financial transactions. Resolving the matter through legal avenues also seems increasingly challenging.

Despite his illustrious career and immense contributions to Bangladesh cricket, Shakib's future in international cricket now hangs in the balance. Fans and cricket enthusiasts alike are left to ponder whether this marks the end of an era.