Shakib Al Hasan is an integral asset to the Bangladesh cricket team and has been a consistent performer for his country over the years.

[23][15] Shakib's career has been filled with controversies over the years, consistently making it to the top of domestic media headlines.

According to Prothom Alo sports editor Utpal Shuvro, Shakib "was fairly proficient at cricket and was often hired to play for different villages and teams".

In his debut match, he scored 24 of 23 balls with four 4s and also achieved a bowling figure of 2/26 in 10 overs with 2 maidens by taking his first wicket of Tanmay Srivastava.

His teammate Mashrafe Mortaza, who was bought in the auction by the Kolkata Knight Riders, said "I would have been a lot happier if Shakib had got a team because he truly deserved it for his sensational form with the bat and ball".

[136][137] In the 43-run win over Rangpur Riders where Dhaka confirmed second-place in the points table at the end of the group stage, Shakib became man of the match for his all-round performance.

[167] Shakib joined for Adelaide Strikers in 2014 replacing the injured Johan Botha, thus becoming the first Bangladeshi to play in the Big Bash League.

[167] In June 2019, Shakib was selected to play for the Brampton Wolves in the 2019 Global T20 Canada,[190] but missed as the BCB granted his request to give him some time off from the cricket.

Before leaving, he made a quickfire 28 and took one wicket conceding 31 runs in Khulna's crucial win against Gazi Group Chattogram in the 1st Qualifier of the tournament.

Initially, a temporary position, Shakib's success against the West Indies, securing his side's first overseas series win, ensured his retention of captaincy even after Mashrafe recovered.

[220] Shakib and Reza were described as "very good cricketers in all departments of the game", and Faruq Ahmed – the chief selector – said that Bangladesh had "high hopes from them and it's time for them to perform at the international level".

[221] Shakib made his ODI debut on the tour on 6 August; his maiden wicket was that of all-rounder Elton Chigumbura, and he finished with bowling figures of 1/39.

[222] In September 2006, Shakib was one of three players to be granted a rookie contract with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), along with Farhad Reza and Mehrab Hossain Jr.

[223] Shakib was included in the 15-man squad led by Habibul Bashar for the 2007 Cricket World Cup hosted West Indies in March and April.

With Tamim Iqbal in just his fifth ODI and Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib was one of three Bangladesh batsmen in the match to score a half century to help the team reach its target of 192 to win.

After the tour, Dav Whatmore resigned from his position as Bangladesh coach,[232] and batsman Mohammad Ashraful replaced Habibul Bashar as captain.

[235] In October that year, it was announced that Jamie Siddons – Australia's assistant coach – would take over the role of Bangladesh coach;[236] Siddons asserted that the previous set-up had focused on short-term goals and that he was planning to improve Bangladesh over the long term and keep together a core squad of talented players to gain experience at international level.

While Bangladesh lost all their matches against South Africa except for an abandoned ODI,[256] Shakib continued to build on the good bowling form he had found against New Zealand.

[257] Shakib's performance against South Africa in a losing cause prompted former Australian leg spin bowler Kerry O'Keeffe to describe him as the "world's best finger spinner at the moment".

[280] Following his team's 4–1 victory in the ODI series against Zimbabwe, Shakib travelled to Australia to undergo medical treatment for acute groin pain.

[293] The match was also a source of controversy after incorrect umpiring decisions on the third day went against Bangladesh, prompting Shakib to blame the lack of a referral system for some of the team's misfortune.

[307] Although Mortaza returned from injury in time for Zimbabwe's tour of Bangladesh in December, Shakib was retained as captain for the five-match ODI series.

West Indies dismissed Bangladesh for 58 runs, the team's lowest score in ODIs and a record low for a Full Member at the World Cup.

[316] Bangladesh registered wins against England, Ireland, and the Netherlands, but defeats by West Indies, India, and South Africa meant they did not progress beyond the first round of the tournament.

[317] With 8 wickets at an average of 27.87, Shakib was Bangladesh's leading wicket-taker in the tournament,[318] and his 142 runs from 6 innings made him the team's third highest run-scorer.

[373] On 2 July 2019, in the match against India, Shakib became the first cricketer in the World Cup to score 600 runs and take 10 wickets in a single tournament.

[397][398] Shakib and Fizz were selected in Bangladesh's 23-member preliminary squad for the ODI series against Sri Lanka during their playing in 2021 Indian Premier League.

[409] On 30 December 2021, Shakib was nominated for ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Year along with Babar Azam, Janneman Malan and Paul Stirling.

[454] He was criticised by protesters and former Bangladesh Cricket Board member Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Khan for staying silent during these events which is now being referred to as July massacre.

[462][463] In September 2024, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) fined him Tk 50 lakh on charges of manipulation in share transactions.