Bangladesh’s newly appointed sports minister Aminul Haque has pledged to fast-track legal proceedings involving former national captains Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Mortaza, signalling the government’s intent to facilitate their return to domestic cricket.
Haque, a former Bangladesh football captain and one of 49 ministers sworn in following the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s election victory on February 12, said the government would adopt a “tolerant and flexible” approach in handling the cases filed against the two cricketers after the fall of the Awami League government in 2024. Both Shakib and Mortaza previously served as Members of Parliament under the Awami League banner.
“The government will deal with the matter concerning Shakib and Mashrafe. We will remain tolerant and flexible on them,” Haque said. “We want Shakib to return. We hope those will be resolved swiftly so they can return. We also want Shakib and Mashrafe back in Bangladesh cricket.”
Shakib has not returned to Bangladesh since May 2024 and has been based in the United States in recent years. Though absent from the national side since October 2024, he has continued to feature in franchise T20 leagues, including the PSL and CPL. In December, he revealed he had reversed his earlier retirement decision and hopes to sign off after playing a full international series across formats.
Mortaza, meanwhile, has kept a low public profile since August 2024. He last played international cricket in 2020 but continued in domestic competitions, including the Dhaka Premier League, before political upheaval reshaped the national landscape.
Haque also described last year’s Bangladesh Cricket Board elections as “questionable,” but said he would engage with board officials to improve governance moving forward.
The developments could mark a significant turning point for two of Bangladesh cricket’s most influential figures.