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All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh has made hints about perhaps competing in the upcoming World Cup, which will be co-hosted in 2026 by Sri Lanka and India.
Before the 2024 T20 World Cup, there were rumours that Shakib, who along with Rohit Sharma are the only two players to have competed in every ICC T20 World Cup to date, might be retiring from the global T20I competition. With 47 wickets in 36 matches, Shakib is now the tournament’s highest wicket-taker. He has given mixed signals regarding whether or not to continue playing T20 cricket for his country.
“Firstly, when I started I didn’t expect that I will play for so long and secondly since the start of T20 Cricket World Cup till this T20 World Cup, I have participated in all them along with Rohit Sharma. It is a matter of pride for me and I’m happy that I could represent the country,” Shakib was quoted in a video uploaded in BCB’s Facebook page on Friday.
“Me and Rohit Sharma are the only two players who played all the T20 World Cups and I hope that I can play another World Cup but before that would like to perform well in the tournament and Bangladesh can do better than previous T20 tournament,” he said.
Shakib, who spends most of his time in USA as his family is based there, added that he expects Bangladesh to do well in the tournament, considering the wickets are going to be similar to what they play at back home.
“It is alright that USA is my second home but it is difficult to say but I think we will get that because earlier when we played in West Indies and America we did well and we played in Florida we did well,” said Shakib.
“We always get favour their because those pitches are quite similar to ours back home. I hope we will get advantage in both the places,” he said.