Tamim Iqbal on Shakib: ‘To Play for the National Team, He Must Return Home and Face Legal Cases’

Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan are two of the biggest names in Bangladeshi cricket. Once close friends, their relationship has now become strained, and the tension between them is widely known. Shakib has been overseas for over a year due to political circumstances, while Tamim Iqbal is preparing to contest the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) elections.

Shakib, having been away from the national team for an extended period, is at the later stage of his career. Questions have arisen about whether he could return to the field if Tamim becomes BCB president. However, some observers doubt that the situation will improve significantly.

On a recent Daily Cricket podcast, Tamim spoke openly about the issue: “He is an active cricketer. He is a Bangladeshi player. If he is fit, able to train, and the selectors consider him worthy, of course, he is eligible. Then he will be selected for the national team again. Bringing him back to the country is not in my hands. Legal matters are involved here.”

Shakib, a former Member of Parliament under the Bangladesh Awami League, faced multiple legal cases in Bangladesh following the July uprising, including a murder case. On this matter, Tamim said: “I cannot control the country’s situation. He has cases against him. If he can face those and train for the national team, the door will undoubtedly remain open for him. He is not an American or Portuguese cricketer; he is Bangladeshi.”

According to Tamim, Shakib must return to Bangladesh to be eligible for national selection: “Proceeding with cases or having cases withdrawn is not the BCB’s responsibility. To play for the country, Shakib must return, train, and face his legal matters. That is the truth. I am not hiding anything. This is his country, and this is his career, so whether he does it or not is his decision. I cannot make that choice for him.”

Tamim’s comments underscore the complex intersection of legal, political, and cricketing factors in Shakib’s potential return to the national side, making it clear that eligibility is contingent on resolving matters within Bangladesh.