Dhaka: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Faruque Ahmed has expressed concerns over the psychological readiness of star allrounder Shakib Al Hasan to contribute to the national cricket team. Faruque's remarks suggest that Shakib is unlikely to feature in Bangladesh's One Day International (ODI) squad for the forthcoming three-match series against the West Indies. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Faruque shared his thoughts during the mascot launch event for the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) held at a hotel in the city. He mentioned, "I can't really answer much about Shakib Al Hasan. I want Shakib to play. But his matter is not in our hands. The reason why he can't come has nothing to do with the cricket board. So it's very difficult for me to answer it." Shakib's absence from the national team has been a topic of discussion since he played in the series against Pakistan and India from abroad. His last appearance for Bangladesh was during a series in India in September, where he announced his retirement from T20Is but expressed a desire to play his final Test match against South Africa at home. This, however, did not materialize due to security concerns linked to a murder case filed against him during the July movement. Faruque remains hopeful about Shakib's potential participation in the Champions Trophy, a tournament that might mark the end of his ODI career. "Shakib has the ability to play for the national team. He is on our radar (for the Champions Trophy), but the issue related to him should be resolved first," Faruque stated. He further noted the distinction between playing in international franchise leagues and representing the national team, emphasizing, "The national team requires a certain combination. Considering all these things, I reckon Shakib probably is not in the mental state to contribute to the level right now. However, we've left this decision to him."
