Shakib remains in Champions Trophy plans amid all uncertainty

|| CF DESK ||

BCB President Faruque Ahmed has acknowledged the challenges of Shakib Al Hasan representing the national team while staying abroad, as the all-rounder has been unable to return to Bangladesh. Despite this, Faruque confirmed that Shakib remains part of the team's plans for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy.

Speaking at an event promoting the "Youth Festival 2025," tied to the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Faruque addressed the media about Shakib's situation.

Shakib was advised against returning to Bangladesh during the home Test series against South Africa. He subsequently missed the ODI series against Afghanistan in the UAE and is unlikely to participate in the upcoming ODIs in the West Indies, though the squad for that series has yet to be announced.

When asked about Shakib’s potential involvement in the Champions Trophy while staying abroad, Faruque reassured that the star player remains in their plans for the tournament, scheduled for February-March next year.

"He [Shakib] is still in the list and we hope that the way he wants it, if there is a solution then definitely he still possesses the capability to play for the national team. But in this way, it's not easy to play from outside the country," Faruque told the media.

The all-rounder’s participation in the West Indies ODIs appears unlikely, as the BCB president emphasized that representing the national team while staying outside the team’s environment is a challenging prospect for any player.

"Playing for a franchise and playing for the country are not the same. You need preparation and being able to gel with the team. Since he can't do those things, he is not in a big mental state to play for the country. Because of that, we have left this thing up to him on what he wants to think," Faruque said.

The BCB president said that Shakib's participation in the upcoming BPL depends on the law enforcement agencies and the justice system.

"Actually I can't say much about it. If you keep asking me about it, it's embarrassing…I want him to play. But the whole thing, the reasons why he can't come…it's not related to the board. So giving an answer is not easy for me. The law enforcement agencies, courts, they have to mention about it," Faruque said on the matter.