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Shakib Al Hasan Left Out Of Rangpur Riders’ GSL 2025 Squad Due To Off-field Tensions

Rajgeeta Yadav

Shakib al Hasan [Source: ICC/X.com]Shakib al Hasan [Source: ICC/X.com]

The Rangpur Riders, defending champions of the Global Super League (GSL), have decided not to include star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan in their 2025 campaign, despite initially showing interest in having him on board.

The GSL will kick off in Guyana on July 10, but Shakib won’t be joining the Riders this time. According to team director Shanian Tanim, it wasn’t a lack of interest or doubts about Shakib’s cricketing abilities that led to this decision.

"Shakib Al Hasan is still one of the most valuable players, not only in Bangladesh, but in any franchise league in the world. It is not like that we did not want him in the squad, but we know the situation of the country at this moment. Shakib still can feature in the starting eleven of any franchise teams. But keeping the current situation in mind, we were not able to take him in the squad," Rangpur team director told the media.

Shakib al Hasan, who was previously involved in politics, hasn’t returned to Bangladesh following last year’s student-led protests. While there has been no official instruction against his selection, the Rangpur team management decided to act cautiously.

"We did not receive any instructions from anyone regarding taking Shakib Al Hasan in the squad. It was a decision made by the team management as we were not sure about the outcome if we take him in the squad. "

Rangpur Riders Ready For Title Defense

Even without Shakib, the Riders have named a strong 16-member squad for the tournament, which runs from July 10 to 18 at the Guyana National Stadium. The team looks confident as they return to defend their title.

In the 2024 GSL, Rangpur pulled off a stunning comeback. After losing their first three matches, they bounced back strongly to win the remaining games and eventually clinch the trophy. Their mix of explosive batting, sharp bowling, and calm leadership made them stand out.

A top-tier team in the Bangladesh Premier League as well, Rangpur Riders have a rich history of success, including their 2017 BPL win. They’ve consistently reached the playoffs in recent seasons and are now focused on replicating their past GSL success in 2025.