Will Shakib Al Hasan play in next month’s South Africa series?

With the two-Test series against South Africa at home scheduled for next month, questions have emerged regarding whether Shakib Al Hasan will feature.

It seems that playing at home may pose a greater challenge for Shakib than playing abroad. Following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, the former Awami League Member of Parliament has been implicated in a murder case, raising concerns about his participation.

When asked about Shakib's availability, Shahriar Nafees, head of BCB's cricket operations, addressed the media at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today. He assured that, to his knowledge, there should be no issue with Shakib playing the series against South Africa.

Shahriar said, "Regarding Shakib Al Hasan, the Honorable Chief Adviser, Legal Adviser, and Sports Adviser have all been clear. The government has issued a message that no one will be unjustly harassed in any of the cases. The interim government has expressed its stance on Shakib's case very clearly. As long as there are no injury issues or election-related concerns, I see no reason why Shakib won't be able to play in the home series."

Shakib struggled to deliver with both bat and ball in the recent Chennai Test against India, raising further questions about his current form.

Despite the legal case looming over him, sources suggest that Shakib is keen to play in the upcoming series. He is optimistic that if he returns to Bangladesh, he won't face harassment. The selectors, meanwhile, are expected to make their decision based purely on cricketing merit, without considering any external factors.

The second Test against India will begin in Kanpur on 27 September, followed by three T20 matches on 6, 9, and 12 October. It remains uncertain whether Shakib will return home with the team after the series or if he will travel later.