United News of Bangladesh

Star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has signed with Atlanta Fire as their international wildcard player for the 2025 USA Minor League Cricket season Atlanta Fire officially announced on Friday that Shakib will play in the 2025 Minor League Cricket season scheduled from August 28 to October 2. In a Facebook post, it described him as a "game-changer," "We are thrilled to announce that Shakib Al Hasan, one of the world's premier all-rounders, will be joining the Atlanta Fire Cricket Team as an International Wildcard this 2025 Minor League season! A game-changer with both bat and ball, Shakib brings unmatched experience, skill, and star power to the Fire lineup." Minor League Cricket is widely seen as a feeder competition for the higher-profile Major League Cricket (MLC) which attracts stars from around the globe. Shakib is currently representing the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Shakib has been out of the Bangladesh national set-up since the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government, of which he was a member. After Hasina’s ouster in a mass uprising, Shakib was supposed to play in the national team at home against South Africa. But due to the protest from the students who led the protest against Haisna, the allrounder was unable to return home. Since then, he has been living out of the country, mostly in the USA, where his family lives.

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is set to make his return to competitive cricket, having been picked by Lahore Qalandars for the remainder of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Shakib, 38, confirmed the development on Tuesday to the media.  He will join fellow Bangladeshi cricketer Rishad Hossain in the Lahore squad, with the league resuming on May 17 after a week-long suspension due to India-Pakistan tensions. Shakib had been training privately in Dubai for several days. His last PSL appearance came for Peshawar Zalmi, and he previously played for Karachi Kings as well, tallying 181 runs and 8 wickets across 14 matches.  BFIU seizes bank accounts of cricketer Shakib Al Hasan However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has yet to grant him the No Objection Certificate (NOC) required for participation. A BCB official said that while Shakib has not yet submitted a formal request, the board’s permission is essential before any official announcement from Lahore Qalandars. Court orders confiscating Shakib Al Hasan’s assets   The PSL, which was suspended amid rising geopolitical tensions, will now resume with eight matches remaining, including the playoffs. Lahore Qalandars play their final league game this Sunday, and Shakib may debut for them that day—if clearance comes through in time. With several foreign players unavailable for the concluding stages of the tournament, franchises are turning to experienced replacements like Shakib to bolster their squads.   

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Friday criticised star cricketer Shakib Al Hasan for contesting the national election under the Awami League (AL) banner, calling it “inappropriate” for a national icon to represent a party he accused of deep-rooted violence and corruption. “Shakib Al Hasan, the former lawmaker from Magura-1, has taken Bangladesh cricket to new heights. But the same Shakib chose to run from the Awami League — a party whose leaders and activists have blood on their hands,” Shafiqul said while talking to reporters during a visit to Magura Medical College Hospital. “They’ve been linked to killings, enforced disappearances, abductions, even bank robberies,” he added. Shafiqul said Shakib himself acknowledged in a recent interview that there is “nothing wrong with joining a political party. While that may be true, Shafiqul questioned the wisdom behind aligning with what he called a “terrorist outfit.” “Joining a political party is not a crime; in fact, it can be a matter of pride. But if you join based on misinformation, or knowingly take the side of a group accused of terror, what does that say about your judgment?” he said. He further alleged that no national election in Magura between 2009 and 2024 was held freely or fairly. “Each and every one was rigged.” Peace won't return to Myanmar keeping Rohingya issue unresolved: Dhaka tells Washington Recalling the July-August movement, he said several young protesters were killed in Magura — while Shakib was still the sitting MP. “Was he unaware that people were dying during protests in his own constituency? Did he ever express regret or speak out against the killings?" He also alleged that the most recent Magura-1 election was a “scripted show,” with the outcome predetermined. “Candidates usually campaign for months, but Shakib barely had to try. He knew from the beginning he would be declared the winner,” Shafiqul claimed. On a separate note, the press secretary said there are no plans to relocate Magura Medical College Hospital. “The Directorate General of Health Services, in collaboration with a top medical college, is working to improve its facilities," he said. The press secretary added that the hospital has already received four awards for academic excellence and remains one of the best-performing institutions in the country.

Star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has signed with Legends of Rupganj for the upcoming Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League (DPDCL) amidst uncertainly about whether he will be able to play given the current political atmosphere. After the India series last year, Shakib was supposed to return home to play his last Test against South Africa at home, but due to the political shift last year, he was unable to come. Nahid brings pace and promise as Bangladesh ready for Champions Trophy Test After that, he was supposed to play in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) for the Chittagong Kings but was ultimately unable to play. Along with all these, he faces restrictions on his bowling due to action testing. Despite all these challenges, Legends of Rupganj have signed the ace all-rounder. National Athletics: 3 more national records created on day-2 The Rupganj management confirmed his signing. Now, it remains to be seen whether Shakib will be able to play in this year's Dhaka League.  

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Faruque Ahmed has left the door open for Shakib Al Hasan’s inclusion in the ICC Champions Trophy squad but admitted to having no updates on the all-rounder’s current status about playing for Bangladesh. Speaking after a board meeting in Mirpur, Faruque acknowledged Shakib’s eligibility for selection but said his participation remains uncertain.  “Shakib’s case is a completely different matter. This isn’t new. During the last series against the West Indies, he wasn’t mentally prepared to play, so he didn’t travel. Now, whether he will play in the BPL is something only he can decide. I don’t have any updates on his situation,” Faruque told reporters.  Despite Shakib’s absence from recent series and his retirement from Tests and T20Is, Faruque reiterated that as long as a player has not retired, they remain available for selection.  However it is doubtful whether Shakib could be minded to officially announce his retirement anymore, after the hostile reaction to his desire to retire from Test cricket by appearing in the home series against South Africa last month. U-19 cricketers get cash bonus from BCB for Asia Cup triumph On Tamim Iqbal, who has been out of the national side for over a year, Faruque said the decision lies with the selectors. “The chief selector has already spoken about Tamim. There’s no special policy yet. If a player hasn’t retired and the selectors feel they are needed, they will engage in discussions with that player,” he explained. In the ongoing inaugural edition of the National Cricket League T20, Tamim showed promising form. But his participation in the Champions Trophy, which will be held next February 2025 in Pakistan, remains uncertain. Tamim had announced his retirement from T20Is in 2022. In 2023, he stunningly announced his retirement from international cricket, but was persuaded to take back that announcement in 24 hours by deposed autocrat Sheikh Hasina.  

Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan has been suspended from bowling in competitions organized by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) after independent testing at Loughborough University found his action illegal, further complicating his availability in international cricket.  His elbow extension exceeded the ICC’s permissible 15-degree limit during a County Championship match for Surrey in September. This is the first time Shakib's bowling action has been reported in his long career. The suspension has broader implications for his international career. Under ICC regulations, if a national cricket board imposes a ban following certified testing, the ruling can extend to international cricket and domestic tournaments under other boards. Consequently, Shakib’s eligibility to bowl for Bangladesh or in franchise leagues like the BPL remains uncertain. However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) retains the authority to allow him to bowl in domestic competitions.  Shakib must now undergo reassessment to prove the legality of his action. Until then, his role as a bowler remains suspended. This is a big blow for him, given the fact that his batting form has waned in recent months due to health issues, including vision problems. The controversy adds to an already tumultuous year for Shakib. His political career as a Member of Parliament for the now-ousted Awami League government and the violent protests in Bangladesh during July and August have further complicated his public image. He has not played international cricket since withdrawing from a farewell Test in October amid political unrest. Shakib’s future as a bowler is now dependent on his ability to correct his action and clear ICC-mandated tests. Without his bowling, the veteran cricketer’s international and franchise career faces an uncertain road ahead.  

Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has seized all bank accounts of former national cricket team captain Shakib Al Hasan. The BFIU confirmed this to journalists last night. On October 2, the agency had summoned all the bank account information of Shakib and his wife Umm Ahmed Shishir and their business organisations to investigate manipulations and financial irregularities in the capital market. After the investigation, BFIU seized all his bank accounts on the orders of the government. Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC), the capital market regulatory body, fined Shakib Tk 50 lakh on September 24 for violating the securities law by manipulating the shares of Paramount Insurance. Read: BFIU seeks bank account information of Shakib Al Hasan, his wife Shakib, a star all-rounder, was elected Member of Parliament from Magura-1 Constituency for Awami League in the last parliamentary elections. He was accused in a murder case filed at Adabar police station after the fall of Hasina's government on August 5. Shakib Al Hasan is currently staying in the United States with his family.

The Bangladesh cricket team is all set to begin their two-match Test series against South Africa on Monday with the Dhaka Test, which will be the first Test of the hosts after their premier allrounder Shakib Al Hasan announced his retirement. Before the Kanpur Test during Bangladesh’s last India tour, Shakib announced his retirement and expressed his desire to play his final Test in Dhaka in front of the home crowd. However, due to his political identity, Shakib was advised not to come to Bangladesh because of safety concerns, which has effectively made the Kanpur Test his last. Shanto calls Shakib’s absence ‘unfortunate’ ahead of South Africa Test Bangladesh captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, however, said he still hopes Shakib will one day retire in front of the home crowd. Keeping the Shakib controversy behind, the Bangladesh team is looking forward to changing their fate against South Africa, the team they never beat in Tests. “If we talk to0 much about this, nothing will change,” Shanto said. “Rather, we want to play good cricket and execute our plan well. If we can play according to our plan, we can get a different result against South Africa this time.” It’s been a decade since South Africa won a Test series in the subcontinent, which proved their dismal performance in the format in the subcontinent. Bangladesh’s new coach, Phil Simmons, who took the post after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) suspended the previous coach, Chandika Hatushingha, said it’s a great opportunity for Bangladesh. “It is definitely a good opportunity. Bangladesh are usually very strong at home. So it is a very good opportunity for us to win the Test series,” Simmons said on his first interaction with media in Bangladesh. Shanto also echoed the same idea. He said Bangladesh will be the favorite in this series. He added that spinners will play a crucial role in this series. “This series is going to be difficult for both teams,” the Bangladesh captain said. “I think we are a bit ahead of them at home. Spinners will play a big role there, as always. I am not looking for anything extra, just what they did in the past.”

Asif Mahmud Sojib Bhuiyan, adviser to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, on Thursday regretted the inability to accord the country's biggest cricket legend Shakib Al Hasan his farewell from cricket on home soil. However, he acknowledged the ongoing public discontent regarding Shakib's association with the ousted Awami League government, describing it as a natural response. Shakib’s final Test appearance called off over security fears "There is public resentment due to Shakib Al Hasan's association with the Awami fascist government," he stated, emphasising the importance of addressing these concerns. Despite Shakib's efforts to clarify his political position through a Facebook post aimed at soothing public frustration, recent protests demonstrated that "it has become evident... that it was not enough." The sports adviser remarked that "those who are protesting also have the constitutional right to do so, underlining the legitimacy of their grievances." Shakib included in squad for South Africa Test In light of the upcoming series between South Africa and Bangladesh, Asif advised the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to discourage Shakib playing in the country for the time being, aiming to prevent any undesirable situations. He explained that this decision was made "as an urgent measure to protect both the players' safety and the country's image in international sports." Asif concluded with a call for respecting the law, stating, "If there are any complaints, solutions can be sought through the legal process."

Amidst concerns over facing possible public anger for his role in the student-led protests that ousted Bangladesh’s iron-fisted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh cricketer Shakib Al Hasan said he is not coming home to play a Test match in Dhaka, which he said his last match in the format.  This made the last Test of the series between India and Bangladesh in Kanpur the last Test of Shakib’s career.  Before that match in Kanpur, Shakib announced his retirement from the longest format of international cricket and expressed his desire to play his last Test in front of the home crowd in Dhaka. But this wish is about to remain unfulfilled.  In an interview with bdnews24 from Dubai, Shakib—on a transit stop during his journey back—addressed his change of plans. “I was supposed to return home, but now I might not be able to do so due to security issues, for my own safety,” he said. It’s clear that Shakib was forced to cancel his plan due to ongoing protests about his homecoming. A group of protesting students burned his effigy on Wednesday at the University of Dhaka. Another group planned to submit a letter to BCB urging them to prevent Shakib from entering the stadium. Shakib's silence during the student-led protest against the Sheikh Hasina government led to this situation. The toppled administration led by Sheikh Hasina tried to quell the protest using deadly weapons that eventually left at least 1000 killed.  Shakib’s homecoming in limbo as protest threat looms large Despite being one of the most celebrated cricketers in Bangladesh’s history, Shakib was silent during the protests, which triggered an angry reaction from the protesting students, who expected Shakib to stand by them. But Shakib, who was also a member of the Awami League government, posted his happy pictures on social media during the protests, which  fueled the anger against him.  When Shakib announced his retirement in Kanpur, he also expressed concerns about his safety if he returned home. He urged the board to ensure his safety during his stay in Dhaka. But the board and the sports ministry reacted in tough words. The sports ministry was led by a student leader, Asif Mahmud, who was among the top organizers of the porters. He is one of the two student leaders who were appointed as advisers in the current interim government.  Later, the sports adviser said they would ensure security for Shakib when he returned home. However, the government changed its stance in reaction to the ongoing protests against Shakib.  A high-ranking government official confirmed Wednesday night that Shakib was advised to forgo his plan to return due to the current political climate. This situation suggests that Shakib’s Test career may now have reached an unofficial end.