Shakib Al Hasan, the seasoned all-rounder, has sent ripples through the cricketing fraternity with his declaration of retirement from international cricket post the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy. This announcement led to conjecture that the ODI World Cup in India and the recently concluded T20 World Series would serve as his swansong. However, in a revealing exchange with the BCB, Shakib articulated his ambition to compete in more World Cups, thereby illuminating the path ahead for his illustrious career.
Setting sail for new horizons, Shakib jetted off on Tuesday to engage in the Major League Cricket (MLC) in the United States. "At this juncture, I am devoid of any personal plans. My immediate itinerary comprises two T20 leagues – the MLC, which I am presently en route to, and subsequently, the Global T20 in Canada," Shakib imparted.
"Following these engagements, my attention will pivot to the test series against Pakistan, donning the national colours." Shakib added, "I haven't indulged in extensive planning. In the current climate, it's more judicious to devise plans spanning three to six months before contemplating further strategies. The existing plan stretches up to the Pakistan series."
On reflecting upon Bangladesh's performance in the tournament, which witnessed them securing a berth in the Super Eight after clinching three group-stage encounters, Shakib conveyed a sense of disenchantment. Despite the prospects of advancing to the semi-finals, the team's aspirations were dashed against Afghanistan. "Maybe we didn't play to our fullest potential, and the results didn't mirror our expectations or the chances we had.
Although we met the initial goal of the Super Eight, it's somewhat disheartening that we couldn't leverage the favourable positions we were in," Shakib mused.
In response to queries regarding the team's inability to progress, Shakib acknowledged, "It's a complex issue to unravel. I am confident that the incumbents – the coach, captain, and the squad, along with the cricket operations team and the board – will conduct a comprehensive review. They will scrutinize the strengths and weaknesses to ameliorate any shortcomings, thereby fortifying the future of Bangladeshi cricket."
