Tigers’ all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is likely to return to Bangladesh Thursday, aiming to play the upcoming home series against South Africa.
Shakib is to play the first of the two-match Test series against the Proteas and call an end to his career in the longer format of the game.
The news was revealed to the media by a close source of the Bangladesh Cricket Board.
Shakib upon his return will immediately board the team hotel in Dhaka and start training at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium from Friday.
The 37-year old is returning to the country for the first time since July and also following the fall of Sheikh Hasina-led government to which he was a Member of the Parliament.
Shakib left the country on July 2 to play for Los Angeles Knight Riders in Major League Cricket in USA and since then, a lot has changed in Bangladesh.
The end of Sheikh Hasina regime on August 5 saw MP Shakib accused of murder and the uncertain times have kept him away from returning to the country.
The left-arm all-rounder played the away series in Pakistan and India without any complication.
However, with the Test series against South Africa set to take place at home, Shakib’s availability was hit with uncertainty.
The Bangladesh cricketer later expressed his wish to play his last Test in front of the home crowd as he announced retirement from Tests and Twenty20 Internationals in Kanpur, India last month.
Shakib during the call of his retirement had also requested assurance of safe exit from the country.
After a saga of uncertainty following statements from BCB president Faruk Ahmed and Adviser of Youth and Sports Ministry Asif Mahmud, the situation turned in favor of Shakib.
It is understood that Shakib has been given a green signal from top level of the government.
It is also doing the rounds in the cricket fraternity that BCB director cum Shakib’s coach Nazmul Abedeen Fahim has played a pivotal role in getting the clearance from the government and ensure Shakib is given a safe passage in and out of the country.
