“The safety of Shakib Al Hasan is not in the hands of the board,” said BCB boss Faruque Ahmed

Shakib said he would like to play his final Test at home if Cricket South Africa (CSA) goes ahead with the tour of Bangladesh. The doubts about the tour stem from unrest in Bangladesh in July and August, when hundreds of people were killed in anti-government protests. Shakib was an MP in the Awami League-led government against which the protests took place. The government fell on August 5, Shakib was subsequently one of 147 people named in a murder case linked to the protests and he has not been to Bangladesh since. So when he returns for his final Test match, he wanted the BCB to give a guarantee of his safety.

“Shakib’s safety is not in the board’s hands,” Faruque said. “The board cannot provide personal security to an individual. He has to make a decision about it. His security must come from the highest levels of government.”

“BCB is not a security agency like the police or the RAB (Rapid Action Battalion). We have not spoken to anyone (in the government) about him. Since his case is a pre-trial matter, we can't really do much about it.”

Faruque said he did not try to change Shakib's mind about quitting Test cricket. “Of course there will be nothing like it (when he plays his last Test at home). Shakib is going through a difficult phase in his life. I didn't try to talk him out of retirement, he thought that this was the right time for him to retire.

Shakib said during the press conference in Kanpur on Thursday ahead of the second match against India – which again will be Shakib's last if he is unable to play at home – that he is worried about his safety. “I am a Bangladeshi citizen and therefore should have no problem returning to Bangladesh,” he said. “I am concerned about my safety in Bangladesh. My close friends and family are worried. I hope things get better. There should be a solution to this.”

While previous BCB members held positions in the Awami League and the board therefore had some political influence, this is no longer the case following the reshuffle of the board following the protests. Therefore, BCB's stance that it cannot guarantee Shakib's safety should not come as a surprise.