Shakib Al Hasan was scheduled to return to Bangladesh on October 17 for his much-anticipated farewell Test against South Africa. However, after a whirlwind of controversies and protests, the star all-rounder will not be returning, and his participation in the Mirpur Test has been canceled.

This Test match was meant to be Shakib’s final appearance in the longest format of the game, as he had previously announced his retirement from Test cricket. Unfortunately, due to public unrest and escalating tensions, Shakib’s return was halted, and the board replaced him with Hasan Murad in the squad.

In response to the situation, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, Youth and Sports Adviser, advised the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) against bringing Shakib back under the current circumstances. Asif explained his decision during a media interaction:

“I’ve already made my position clear in a statement on my page regarding Shakib’s situation. Given the current unrest, my advice to the BCB was based on ensuring no unwanted incidents occur within the sports arena and to prioritize the safety of the players. Security isn’t just about ensuring safe travel and play; it’s also about preventing any potential disruptions before they happen. Both sides of the issue must be considered,” Asif said.

There had been rumors that Asif was behind the protests, which saw demonstrators taking to the streets against Shakib's return. However, Asif denied these allegations, clarifying: “I’m not sure where these claims about my involvement came from. I saw a video where a student mentioned my name, but when I briefed the press at BCB, I clearly stated that protests and expressing opinions are constitutional rights. If someone misinterprets my words or gives misleading statements, that’s not my responsibility. Protesting is a right; we’ve protested and overthrown governments in the past. So, it’s up to the people how they choose to express their opinions.”

Shakib, who had earlier declared his desire to retire from Test cricket in front of home fans, had requested security assurances regarding his return. His concerns were primarily focused on safe entry and exit from the country. However, as protests continued to grow, the situation became more tense. Despite the board's initial optimism, they eventually decided to follow Asif’s advice, officially canceling Shakib’s return.

Protesters outside the BCB offices in Mirpur escalated their demonstrations, burning effigies of Shakib and submitting a memorandum demanding that he not be allowed to participate in the upcoming series. Ultimately, these protests succeeded in blocking his return, and Shakib’s last Test match will now be the one he played in Kanpur, India.

With the first Test between Bangladesh and South Africa set to begin on October 21 in Mirpur, Hassan Murad has been named as Shakib’s replacement in the squad. Although Shakib was initially included, the recent developments have forced the board to make a late change.