Will Shakib be able to don Rupganj Jersey?

Shakib Al Hasan, remains a name that sparks excitement and intrigue. Yet, for months, the all-rounder has been a man in exile, unable to return to homeland. 

Security concerns forced him to miss the October-November Test series against South Africa on home soil, halting his plans for a farewell Test in Dhaka. Since then, the national team—whether playing at home or abroad—has felt the void of its “champion” star.  

Now, a fresh twist has electrified the cricket world: Shakib is slated to don the Legends of Rupganj jersey in this year’s Premier Cricket League. The announcement has left fans buzzing with a mix of anticipation and disbelief. 

How, they wonder, can Shakib play in Dhaka’s marquee club competition when he can’t even step foot in Bangladesh?  

The Premier Cricket League isn’t some overseas franchise event where Shakib could jet in from afar. It’s Dhaka’s own, a cornerstone of the country’s domestic cricket scene. So, what’s behind Legends of Rupganj’s bold claim—and the swirling talk of Shakib’s return?  

Tariqul Islam Titu, the team’s manager, offered clarity amid the speculation. Speaking to an eager cricket community, he laid it out simply: “There’s no obstacle to including him in the squad anymore. If Shakib can return to Bangladesh, he’ll play. If he can’t, he won’t. It’s straightforward.”  

For now, it’s a waiting game. Shakib’s participation hinges on a single, towering condition: his safe return home. Political unrest and legal entanglements—tied to his past role as an Awami League parliamentarian—have kept him abroad since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government last August. He’s been spotted in T10 leagues from Canada to Lanka, wielding his bat but not his once-lethal left-arm spin, which remains banned after failing a bowling action reassessment.