Zakir Hossain from Dhaka
Bangladesh cricket star Shakib Al Hasan has expressed hope that the country’s cricketing future will improve after recent political changes, saying a new government could help repair strained ties and bring clarity to key decisions.
Speaking on the sidelines of an EUT20 League event in Mumbai, Shakib said the situation was likely to stabilise once both the government and cricket administration settled into their roles.
Bangladesh’s absence from the recent ICC Men’s T20 World Cup had raised concern in cricket circles after the interim government declined to allow the team to travel to India, citing security reasons. Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland.
The development also strained ties between the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the BCCI. Tensions deepened further after Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman was released by his IPL franchise ahead of the 2026 season.
Bangladesh’s bid to shift its World Cup matches to Sri Lanka was also rejected by the ICC, leaving the team out of the tournament altogether.
Shakib said the leadership change under PM Tarique Rahman could help ease tensions and bring a more balanced approach to cricket matters. He also described the upcoming cricket board elections as an important opportunity to rebuild relationships.
According to him, better communication with India and other cricket boards would be vital to avoid similar issues in future.
The 37-year-old Bangladesh cricket poster boy said that, with a new government in place and administrative changes expected, the country’s cricket could move ahead on a more stable path. He added that constructive engagement with global cricket bodies could help resolve past concerns and ensure the team remains active internationally.