Shakib Al Hasan To Retire From Test Cricket After Kanpur Match Against India, Bids Adieu To T20

Bangladesh's iconic all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has announced his retirement from T20 Internationals (T20Is) and hinted that the upcoming Kanpur Test against India could be his final appearance in red-ball cricket.

This revelation was made during a press conference ahead of Bangladesh's second Test against India.

Shakib expressed his desire to end his Test career in front of his home crowd in Mirpur. However, if that isn't possible, he stated that the match against India would be his last in Test cricket.

"I have expressed my desire to play my last Test in Mirpur, if that won't happen, second Test against India would be my last," Shakib said.

Reflecting on his journey, he added, "Bangladesh cricket has given me so much, and I want to give my last in this format at home."

Shakib's Test career began against India in May 2007 in Chattogram, and since then, he has represented Bangladesh in 70 Tests. He has scored 4,600 runs, including five centuries and 31 half-centuries, making him the third-highest run-scorer for Bangladesh in Test cricket.

On the bowling side, Shakib is Bangladesh's top wicket-taker in Tests, with 242 wickets, being the only bowler from his country to cross the 200-wicket milestone.

Regarding his T20I career, Shakib confirmed his retirement, having earlier hinted at it during the T20 World Cup. He played in 129 T20I matches for Bangladesh, scoring 2,551 runs at a strike rate of 121.18.

His contributions with the ball were even more significant, with 149 wickets in 126 innings, missing the 150-wicket mark by a whisker.

His best T20I bowling figures were 5/20. Shakib's final T20I appearance for Bangladesh came during the T20 World Cup, where he played in the Super Eights against Afghanistan in June.