Sports Desk:

Shakib Al Hasan, retired from Test and T20 cricket, had hoped to play his final Test on home soil, but security concerns thwarted his plans, leaving his last Test as the one against India in Kanpur last September.

While he aims to continue ODI cricket until the Champions Trophy, his chances are fading. Bangladesh’s only ODI series before the tournament, against the West Indies, is set to proceed without him.

The BCB has reportedly instructed selectors to omit Shakib from the squad, citing concerns about his mental readiness.

Shakib’s recent challenges, including legal issues and frozen bank accounts, have fuelled speculation that he sought guarantees for playing and travel freedoms, though the BCB denied receiving such conditions.

“Given his current mental state, we felt Shakib isn’t in the right condition to play. Playing franchise cricket is not the same as representing the national team,” a BCB official said on request of anonymity.

Selectors followed the board’s directive, finalising the squad without Shakib, with only an official announcement pending.

The three-match ODI series will begin on 8 December with the next two ODIs taking place on 10 and 12 December respectively.