Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan to retire from international cricket in March 2025 | Cricket News

The troubled former captain, who is facing murder charges in Bangladesh, plans to hang up his boots after the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

Bangladesh's former captain Shakib Al Hasan, who is facing criminal charges in his home country, has announced plans to retire from international cricket in March 2025 after representing his country for 18 years.

Shakib is facing murder charges in Bangladesh, along with dozens of other members of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's party who are accused of complicity in a deadly police crackdown on protesters in July and August.

He has not returned home since the fall of Hasina's government in August, but confirmed on Thursday that he intends to play one final Test series at home.

The 37-year-old has expressed his desire to represent Bangladesh in the upcoming Test series against South Africa but his return to the country remains questionable given the current political climate.

“I told this to the BCB (Bangladesh Cricket Board) and the selectors,” Shakib told reporters ahead of the second India-Bangladesh Test in Kanpur on Friday.

“They agreed with me that they are trying to organize everything if possible so that I can come back to Bangladesh and play these two Test matches in Mirpur and finish my Test career there.”

He added: “If that doesn't happen, this might be my last (Test match).”

The South Africa tour, scheduled to begin on October 21, is still in limbo as the Proteas assess whether Bangladesh is safe enough after last month's revolution.

Shakib said next year's ICC Champion's Trophy in Pakistan would be his last international appearance.

“I have eight ODI games left and the Champions Trophy will be the last one,” he said.

He confirmed that he had already ended his T20 career after the World Cup in June.

“This is the right time for me to move on and BCB will look at some new players,” he added.

Shakib is arguably the South Asian country's greatest cricketer and one of the sport's greatest all-rounders, with more than 700 wickets and nearly 15,000 runs in international cricket.

He was the driving force behind the Bangladesh team's emergence as a serious international contender, delighting fans through both star performances and scandals.

He remains the only player to top the International Cricket Council all-rounder rankings in all three formats simultaneously.

The veteran also played a key role in his team's historic Test series in Pakistan earlier this month and traveled to England to play county cricket for Surrey before heading to India.

His international career, which began in 2006, includes 70 Tests, 247 ODIs and 129 T20 Internationals.