Shakib Al Hasan Unveils Retirement Plan, Eyes 2025 Champions Trophy as Farewell

Shakib Al Hasan, one of Bangladesh’s most iconic cricketing figures, has outlined his retirement plan, suggesting that the 2025 Champions Trophy could serve as his swansong in international cricket. He also revealed his intentions to step away from T20Is after the 2024 T20 World Cup and potentially retire from Test cricket following the upcoming ODI World Cup in India.

Stepping Away, One Format at a Time

In an interview with T-Sports, Shakib shared his retirement strategy, indicating a phased exit from the various formats of the game. He expressed, “The 2025 Champions Trophy for ODIs and the 2024 T20 World Cup for T20Is. Tests may be sooner. Maybe (after the World Cup). I will retire all at once, but I will stop playing each format one by one. I will announce my retirement after the 2025 Champions Trophy.”

During the interview, Shakib also shed light on his recent captaincy decisions, including his temporary return to captaincy for the World Cup. He revealed that he had contemplated resigning from the captaincy after the Asia Cup earlier in September but decided to continue following discussions with the team management.

Captaincy Decisions and Reflections

Shakib explained his thought process, saying, “Given the current reality, I am captain only till the World Cup. Not a day more. I resigned from the captaincy on the 17th [of September]. I informed Papon bhai and emailed the CEO that I don’t want to be the captain.” He highlighted that, at this stage of his career, he aimed to focus on his performance on the field without the added responsibilities of captaincy.

However, he ultimately accepted the role after understanding the unanimous decision of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), coach, and team management.

Shakib’s second stint as full-time ODI captain witnessed success in the Asia Cup, where Bangladesh secured victories against Afghanistan and India in five matches. Despite stepping down from captaincy, Shakib remains committed to contributing to Bangladesh’s cricketing journey as a player, with a focus on his performance in all formats.

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