Newly appointed Bangladesh chief selector Habibul Bashar has expressed his desire to keep Shakib Al Hasan in the national setup until the 2027 World Cup, prioritizing long-term planning over immediate returns.
Speaking to the media after his appointment by the Bangladesh Cricket Board, Bashar said his focus is not on rushing Shakib back for the upcoming New Zealand series, stressing that the veteran all-rounder needs proper preparation before returning to competitive cricket.
Bashar noted that Shakib is not someone who can step in without adequate match readiness and emphasized that decisions regarding his inclusion will be based on long-term goals rather than emotion.
The former captain added that Shakib still has around two years of international cricket left in him and remains firmly in the team’s future plans, with the 2027 World Cup as a key target.
“He is definitely in the plans. You see there are talks about him in regards to the New Zealand series which is why I want him to come prepared for a longer time. I think he still has two years.” he said.
