Hasina-linked exiled cricketer ready to face murder trial, seeks safe return
Bangladeshi cricketer Shakib Al Hasan has expressed his willingness to return home to face murder charges if the government guarantees his safety. The former lawmaker, currently in exile, hopes to play a final series before the 2027 World Cup.
Why it matters
His potential return highlights the ongoing political instability in Bangladesh following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina and the legal challenges facing her former allies.
Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is ready to return home after two years in exile, face trial in the cases against him, including a murder charge, and play a farewell series if the government guarantees his safety, news agency Reuters reported.Shakib, a former lawmaker from former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League, has been living in the United States since Hasina's government was removed in a student-led uprising in August 2024.The 39-year-old has not retired from international cricket and said he still hopes to play one final series for Bangladesh at home before representing the country at the 2027 ODI World Cup.Shakib's situation reflects the wider impact of Hasina's removal from power, with several of her political allies facing criminal cases and remaining outside Bangladesh.
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