Shakib Al Hasan wanted to retire from Test cricket after playing the first Test against South Africa. The team was also announced with him. In the end, the left-handed all-rounder returned from the United Arab Emirates as he did not get the green signal from the government. BCB president Farooq Ahmed spoke to the media on Wednesday despite keeping his mouth shut about Shakib's return to the country. He said that despite BCB's best efforts, Shakib could not come to the country because of his political identity.
Speaking to the media before entering the board meeting on Wednesday, Farooq Ahmed said, 'What you said about not being able to return to play the last Test… we are absolutely not involved in this matter. This is the matter of law enforcement, government and Shakib Al Hasan). Here we were supposed to take a purely auxiliary part. Whatever I say in front of you personally, I have tried my best so that Shakib Al Hasan can retire from the country. I tried my best.'
Farooq claimed that he made all efforts to see off Shakib on the soil of the country. But that attempt failed mainly because of Shakib's political identity. Although he did not say anything directly, his words hinted, 'Shakib is not just a player now. He has an identity as an MP in the last government and has some sentiments (about him). All in all, the government's point of view and the cricket board's point of view are not the same.
In the next speech, Farooq clearly said that the board has no responsibility for Shakib's non-arrival. Answering a question, he said, 'As a former cricketer, I felt that a boy who has played cricket for 17 years, he is a brand ambassador, has done a lot for Bangladesh. I thought it would be better if he retired from the country. But at the same time other things should be seen. He couldn't come at the last minute with those things, the board had nothing to do about it. It is a completely legal matter and law enforcement is involved. So it was a matter of Shakib and law enforcement. The board was not part of it. When he came, we would try to provide security to him as much as the board could. As he has not come, there is no use in talking about it.'
