Tamim points the way for Shakib to return to National Team. Two superstars of Bangladesh cricket, Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal, were once close friends. However, over time, that bond has eroded, which has been in the news for the past couple of years. Shakib has been out of the country for more than a year due to the political changes after August 5, 2024, and Tamim is participating in the BCB elections at a time when he is out of the country for more than a year. Shakib is out of the national team due to his long absence. As a result, the question arises, will Shakib be able to return to the team if Tamim becomes the BCB president?
According to Tamim, ‘He is an active cricketer. He is a Bangladeshi cricketer. Now if he is fit, can practice and if the selectors consider him worthy of being included in the team, then he is certainly worthy. Then he will be selected for the national team again. It is not in my hands to bring him back to the country. There are legal issues involved here.’
Regarding the fate of Shakib’s case, Tamim said, ‘I cannot control the situation in the country. There are cases against him, if he can face them and practice for the national team, the door will definitely be open for him. He is not an American cricketer, not a Portuguese cricketer, he is from Bangladesh.’
The former captain added, ‘It is not the BCB’s business to file a case in court, to withdraw the case. If Shakib wants to play for the country, he has to return home first, practice. That is the truth. I am not hiding anything. This is Shakib’s country too, his career is his, so it is his decision whether he will do these things or not. I cannot say that.’