After nearly six months away, Shakib Al Hasan is set to return to competitive cricket. If all goes as planned, the Bangladeshi all-rounder will take the field tonight (Saturday) for Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Shakib last played in November 2023 during the Abu Dhabi T10 League. After a lengthy break, he is now ready to step back onto his favorite stage.
Shakib had been spending time with his family in the United States and gradually began preparing for his return to cricket. He resumed training privately in the UAE. Facing a shortage of players, Lahore Qalandars added him to their squad. Although the league was temporarily halted due to political tensions between India and Pakistan, the tournament has since resumed, and Shakib’s participation is now nearly certain.
In a video message shared by Lahore Qalandars, Shakib said, “Every time I’ve come to Pakistan, I’ve really enjoyed it. Pakistan is a great place to play cricket. It feels good to be back.”
Lahore will face Peshawar Zalmi tonight at 9 PM Bangladesh time in Rawalpindi. Shakib’s return comes after a challenging period. While he had initially planned to retire after returning home, political unrest and legal issues prevented those plans from materializing.
He last played for Bangladesh in October 2024 in a Test match against India in Kanpur. During a stint in county cricket in England, questions were raised about his bowling action. Though he was eventually cleared after three rounds of testing, he hadn’t made a return to professional cricket—until now.
Following a practice session with Lahore, Shakib commented, “I bowled a few overs to regain my rhythm, and I found what I was looking for. Although it’s been a while since I played a match, I’m going in prepared. I’ve trained for batting, bowling, and fielding. Now, I feel fully ready.”
UA / TDS
