Shakib Al Hasan’s career has been built on milestones, records and elite-level consistency. Yet, even after two decades at the top of world cricket, the Bangladeshi all-rounder encountered something he had never experienced before. His debut in the International League T20 in Sharjah turned into an unexpected spectacle when he was retired out — the first such instance in a career spanning 913 professional innings.
On a warm cricketing afternoon in Sharjah, MI Emirates opted to bat first against the Sharjah Warriors. Shakib, playing his very first match in the franchise, entered the crease at the fall of Muhammad Wasim’s wicket at the end of the tenth over. He looked steady, guiding the ball into gaps, maintaining good shape and timing as he collected 16 runs from 12 balls.
However, what happened next stunned spectators both at the stadium and those watching from around the world. After facing the final delivery of the 16th over, Shakib casually walked off the field. There was no visible discomfort, no injury. The umpire did not intervene. Instead, Kieron Pollard took his place, ready to launch into the death overs.
Initially, confusion reigned. Had he picked up a niggle? Was it heat-related fatigue? Moments later, television commentator Mike Haysman clarified the mystery — Shakib had been tactically retired out by the MI Emirates team management.
A tactical retirement is legal but rarely used. Shakib thus joined an exclusive, if unusual, list of players who have been withdrawn mid-innings to make way for a more aggressive hitter. The only other Bangladeshi player to experience this in official T20 cricket was Sanzamul Islam in 2019.
MI Emirates were 129 for 4 at the time, with four overs left. Though Pollard was expected to provide quick runs, he managed only four from two balls before being dismissed. However, other players stepped up, helping the team reach 185 for 8 by the end of 20 overs.
Sharjah Warriors fought back admirably. Sikandar Raza produced a masterful inning, smashing 64 from 33 balls with supreme confidence. Yet MI Emirates maintained enough pressure at crucial junctures of the chase, eventually securing a narrow four-run victory.
Shakib’s bowling performance lacked its usual sharpness. His two overs cost the side 27 runs, suggesting he was still settling into the conditions and the demands of the new league.
What could have been an ordinary debut instead became an extraordinary talking point. Analysts debated the decision, fans questioned the tactics, and cricket followers around the globe noted the historic nature of the moment. For Shakib, whose career has seen countless highs, his first-ever tactical retirement in professional cricket added a quirky but memorable footnote.