Shakib set to return home on Thursday for farewell Test against South Africa

Shakib Al Hasan, who recently announced his retirement from Test cricket, is set to return to Bangladesh to play his farewell match against South Africa.

Despite ongoing legal concerns, including being named in a murder case, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and government officials have assured him full security.

Following discussions on the matter, BCB President Faruque Ahmed stated that the board could take responsibility for his security. A few days later, Youth and Sports Advisor Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan made a similar comment, mentioning that guaranteeing Shakib's safety would be challenging.

Despite the initial uncertainty, Asif Mahmud later assured that the highest level of security would be provided to Shakib. He reiterated this statement during a visit to the Mirpur Stadium, adding that there would be no obstacles for Shakib to either return to or leave the country. Although the experienced all-rounder's participation in his final Test remained unconfirmed for some time, it has now been officially decided that Shakib will return to play his last Test against South Africa in Mirpur.

BCB sources confirmed to TBS that Shakib has already informed the board about his decision to return, though he has yet to confirm the exact date of his arrival. Sources also indicated that Shakib, who was elected as a Member of Parliament under the Awami League banner in January, is deliberately keeping his return date confidential for now. However, it is expected that he may arrive as early as Thursday.

According to the source, "While there was some uncertainty, it has now been resolved. Shakib Al Hasan is definitely returning to Bangladesh. He has already communicated his final decision to the board but hasn't shared the exact date yet. He is keeping it secret for now, but it is confirmed that he is likely to arrive on Thursday." Bangladesh's first Test against South Africa is scheduled to start in Mirpur on 21 October, and Shakib is expected to rejoin the team a few days prior to begin training.

Shakib was named as the 28th accused in a murder case related to the death of garment worker Rubel, who was killed during an anti-discrimination student movement. Rubel's father, Rafiqul Islam, filed the case on 23 august. Shortly afterward, the BCB announced that Shakib would continue to play for the national team unless proven guilty. The board also assured that it would provide legal assistance to the country's greatest cricketer.

Shakib has been abroad for an extended period. After playing in the T20 World Cup last June, the Bangladeshi all-rounder left for the United States just two days after returning home and participated in Major League Cricket (MLC). He later captained Mississauga's Bangla Tigers in the Global T20 in Canada. Following this, Shakib played in a Test series in Pakistan before heading to England, where he represented Surrey in a County Championship match. He then joined the Bangladesh team in India for their Test series and later returned to the US to be with his family.