BCB play the Shakib card amid World Cup fallout

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has turned to a familiar narrative—expressing a desire to bring Shakib Al Hasan back into the national team—amid the fallout from Bangladesh being replaced by Scotland in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup.

The topic emerged during a press conference following an eight-hour BCB board meeting at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. BCB media committee chairman Amzad Hossain faced questions about why Shakib’s name was being raised abruptly.

With public attention fixed on the World Cup exclusion, floating Shakib’s name appeared to be a calculated move to shift headlines—a tactic used by previous BCB administrations.

Former BCB president Nazmul Hossain often publicly criticized Shakib to assert authority, though insiders say he would later reassure players that the comments were for media consumption rather than reflective of his true views. Shakib has historically understood this dynamic.

Shakib himself has been skeptical. In earlier comments, he questioned whether the board’s interest was genuine or driven by his star power, stating, “I cannot say whether they are really keen or not because I cannot read other people’s minds.”

At Saturday’s press conference, Amzad Hossain insisted the board is keen to have Shakib back, citing the cricketer’s wish to end his career in Bangladesh. He stated that a director had proposed Shakib’s name during discussions about contracted players, noting Shakib’s interest.

Amzad clarified, “From our side, if Shakib plays, he must meet fitness and selection requirements. The legal issues are for the government. But from the board’s side, we want Shakib.”

He added that the board unanimously agreed to consider Shakib for selection based on availability, fitness, and accessibility, and would provide No-Objection Certificates for global tournaments as needed.

However, the BCB did not clarify whether it secured government approval before announcing these plans—a key hurdle in the past, given the political sensitivities surrounding Shakib after the July movement that ousted Awami League leaders.

BCB president Aminul Islam will reportedly engage with the government on the legal aspect.

The discussion also carries political undertones, with a general election approaching and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party leading polls. Some analysts believe a change in government could facilitate Shakib’s return, and the BCB may later claim credit for efforts initiated earlier.

When asked about legal action, Amzad said, “We would not go for arbitration.”

With the World Cup dream over, the BCB continues to reshuffle its deck, hoping the next move distracts from the last failure.