Shakib did not get a team in the IPL; in fact, his name wasn’t even listed in the auction. None of the franchises showed any interest in him. However, this is not entirely unexpected.  

The IPL auction has always been ruthless. Some players receive multimillion-dollar offers, while others are completely overlooked—even big stars. Take David Warner, for example. He is undoubtedly among the top five players in IPL history, with a record 62 fifties, over 6,500 runs, and a championship win as captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad. Yet, there was a time when even Warner went unsold. Therefore, it’s not surprising that a player like Shakib, nearing the twilight of his career, fails to secure a team.  

But for Shakib, the challenges don’t end here. Unlike Warner, he cannot easily find a place in leagues like the Big Bash or others. While Shakib does have some alternatives, his participation in top-tier leagues remains uncertain.  

Which league ranks second after the IPL? Certainly not the BPL. In terms of quality, it is far behind. While Shakib is guaranteed to get a team in the BPL, the real concern is whether he will be able to play at all. Due to the political situation, Shakib has been away from national team duties and hasn’t returned to the country. This makes his participation in the BPL equally complicated.  

Meanwhile, leagues like South Africa's SA T20 League, the UAE’s International T20 League, and Australia’s Big Bash are scheduled around the same time as the BPL. Shakib has no place in the Big Bash—not only because of performance concerns but also due to objections raised by Cricket Australia’s ethics committee over his past disciplinary issues in 2020.  

Similarly, Shakib hasn’t secured a spot in any team in the UAE’s league and didn’t register for the SA T20 League auction. The squads for New Zealand’s Super Smash are yet to be announced.  

This leaves tournaments like the PSL and CPL. Both are considered high-quality leagues. Shakib has a good chance of playing in the CPL, where his bowling remains effective on Caribbean pitches. However, he has had limited appearances in the PSL, having played just 14 matches since the league’s inception in 2016.  

Other options for Shakib include Major League Cricket (MLC) in the USA and Canada’s Global T20 League. Last season, Shakib played for the Los Angeles Knight Riders in MLC. Given his current residence in the USA, participating in this league would be convenient. The Lanka Premier League also remains a possibility, where Shakib played in 2023.