Shakib Al Hasan’s Absence Sparks Protests as Bangladesh Prepares for South Africa Test Series
Bangladeshi cricket fans gathered outside the Mirpur Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Friday to protest the exclusion of star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan from the national team ahead of the upcoming home test series against South Africa.
Shakib, who is also a politician, had initially flown from the United States to join the Bangladesh team but abruptly canceled his trip while in Dubai, citing “security concerns.” The development sent shockwaves through the cricket community, with hundreds of Shakib’s supporters taking to the streets to express their outrage.
“Shakib is one of the best cricketers in the world. You can’t exclude him from the team,” said one fan wearing a Bangladesh jersey. “He didn’t do anything wrong. Why is he being barred from coming home?”
Another supporter added, “Shakib wants to say goodbye to cricket from Mirpur, not Kanpur. He will do it on his own terms.”
The fans fear that Bangladesh cricket will suffer without Shakib’s presence. “The team is immobile without him,” said one fan.
Shakib’s absence stems from his involvement in politics. He joined the ruling Awami League party in 2023 and won a parliamentary seat in the 2024 general election. However, the party has been accused of committing crimes during a recent uprising that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Shakib is one of the accused in these cases.
Despite the allegations, Shakib had expressed his desire to continue playing cricket and had sought security guarantees from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). The BCB initially responded positively and announced his inclusion in the team. However, Shakib’s decision to cancel his trip has raised questions about his safety concerns.
The BCB has since appointed former West Indies batter Phil Simmons as the new head coach of the national team, replacing Chandika Hathurusinghe.
