Bangladesh cricket Shakib Al Hasan has said he is willing to return home and face criminal proceedings against him if the government guarantees his safety, according to an exclusive interview with Reuters.Shakib has been living in exile in the United States since former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted in a student-led uprising in August 2024. The former Bangladesh captain, who was also an Awami League lawmaker under Hasina, has not returned home since.“If I get the clearance from the government that my security will be ensured, I am happy to go back, face the court trial and everything that’s needed to be done,” Shakib told Reuters by phone from Sri Lanka.He said he believed the allegations against him were baseless and wanted the opportunity to return and defend himself in court. Shakib said he was also keen to speak with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman about his return.Shakib is facing two active cases in Bangladesh. One concerns the alleged killing of a protester during the 2024 uprising, while another was filed by anti-corruption authorities. He said the murder case was filed on a day when he was playing a match in Toronto.Shakib also said his bank accounts had been frozen for around 18 months while investigations continued. He has not appointed a defence lawyer in the murder case, according to Reuters.His political links remain a major obstacle to his return. Shakib defended his decision to appear virtually at a press conference with Hasina in Delhi this week, saying he had only called for peace and progress in Bangladesh. He said he had no intention of distancing himself from Hasina or the Awami League to facilitate his return.The Rahman government, however, has rejected any suggestion of special treatment. His press secretary A.A.M. Saleh told Reuters that Shakib was facing the consequences of his association with the former government and that Bangladeshi law applied equally to everyone.“Shakib Al Hasan is an accused person, and he must surrender before the courts of Bangladesh to face the judicial process,” Saleh said.Shakib said he had previously tried to return. In late 2024, he boarded a flight home after receiving assurances that he would be protected, but was reportedly instructed to turn around while the plane was in transit. He returned to New York after landing in Dubai.A subsequent attempt also failed after he posted a birthday message for Hasina, which authorities cited as a reason for preventing his entry, he said.Despite the political and legal uncertainty, Shakib has not retired from international cricket. He said he wants to play a farewell series at home and hopes to represent Bangladesh at the 2027 ODI World Cup, although he acknowledged that he cannot continue indefinitely.“I am feeling good, still enjoying the game, playing well also,” Shakib told Reuters. “But … age is not on my side at this moment, so I cannot wait for too long.”The cricketer also said he has not seen his parents in Bangladesh for two years and that the prolonged separation had been difficult for his family.
