Bangladeshi cricket superstar Shakib Al Hasan is facing legal trouble once again after a court issued an arrest warrant on Sunday for bounced cheques amounting to over $300,000. The warrant marks the latest setback for the former lawmaker, who has faced mounting scrutiny in recent years.
Mohammed Shahibur Rahman, a representative of IFIC Bank, confirmed the warrant. “The court has previously summoned Shakib al Hasan, but he did not appear,” Rahman stated. The bank initiated the legal case after the cheques in question were returned unpaid.
Shakib al Hasan’s political connections have further complicated his situation. A former lawmaker aligned with Sheikh Hasina’s government, the cricketer became a focal point of public ire following the collapse of Hasina’s administration during a revolution in August 2024. Hasina, an autocratic leader, fled to India by helicopter during the uprising.
Though Shakib al Hasan has not been charged, his ties to the ousted government have made him a target of murder investigations stemming from a violent police crackdown on protesters during the revolution.
At the time of Hasina’s downfall, Shakib al Hasan was participating in a domestic Twenty20 competition in Canada. He has not returned to Bangladesh since, further fuelling speculation about his legal and political standing.
Despite his impressive cricketing credentials—71 Tests, 247 ODIs, and 129 T20Is with a combined 712 wickets—Shakib al Hasan has seen his influence wane on the international stage.
Shakib al Hasan was notably left out of Bangladesh’s 15-man squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, set to be held in Pakistan and Dubai. Najmul Hossain Shanto will captain the side, as Bangladesh prepares to compete in Group ‘A’ against heavyweights India, Pakistan, and New Zealand.
With legal and political challenges mounting, Shakib’s once-brilliant cricketing career now faces uncertainty. As Bangladesh readies itself for a high-stakes Champions Trophy campaign, the absence of one of its most celebrated players underscores the shifting sands both on and off the field.