Shakib set for Bangladesh swan song on home soil

Controversial ex-skipper Shakib Al Hasan was expected to return home today for what he says is his swan song when Bangladesh host South Africa in a two-Test series.
The series starting October 21 in Mirpur, near the capital Dhaka, is the first international cricket fixtures in Bangladesh since a student-led revolution toppled the autocratic premier.
Sheikh Hasina fled by helicopter to India on August 5 as crowds stormed her palace in Dhaka.
More than 700 people were killed in the unrest, according to Bangladesh’s health ministry.
The 37-year-old Shakib has not returned to Bangladesh since the toppling of Hasina’s government, in which he served as a lawmaker.
Earlier this month he apologised for remaining silent during the revolution but defended his contentious decision to serve the regime it toppled.
Shakib was playing in a domestic Twenty20 cricket competition in Canada as the regime collapsed.
Even though he has not returned to Bangladesh since, he has toured Pakistan and India with the team, with the approval of the interim government.
Shakib announced his retirement from international cricket last month but said then that he wanted to play one last Test series at home.
He said in a Facebook post earlier this month that he wanted the opportunity to “say goodbye” to his fans, saying that he paid his “respects to all the students who sacrificed their lives”.
Selector Hannan Sarkar said that Shakib was selected only after the BCB had given them the green light. “Shakib had expressed his desire to play his final Test at home. We also know that this was a government issue and BCB issue. We sought the BCB’s clearance so when they gave us the green signal that Shakib is available for selection, we picked him. We are proud to see our legend retiring from the home of cricket.”
Bangladesh host South Africa for two Tests, in Mirpur from October 21 and in Chattogram from October 29. It is the first assignment under their interim coach Phil Simmons, who joined the squad on Wednesday, a day after the BCB removed Chandika Hathurusinghe from the position for disciplinary reasons.
Bangladesh are currently seventh on the World Test Championship points table, after a 2-0 win in Pakistan and a 2-0 defeat in India. South Africa are fifth on the WTC standings, having most recently won a two-Test series 1-0 in the West Indies in August.
Bangladesh, led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, have cut fast bowler Khaled Ahmed from the squad for the visit of South Africa.
Otherwise they keep faith with the squad that celebrated a landmark 2-0 series sweep in Pakistan but also suffered a 2-0 defeat in India.
Bangladesh squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das (wk), Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana.