Former Bangladesh captain, Shakib Al Hasan was supposed to play his farewell Test, to be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, in Mirpur. As the Bangladesh protests led to the uprising in the country, Shakib also faced the heat as the political unrest swarmed his prospects of returning to the country.
However, on October 17, Shakib confirmed that he had pulled out of the Mirpur Test as he was suggested by the authorities due to security reasons. Moreover, youth and sports adviser Asif Mahmud too notified the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to keep the all-rounder out of the fray. But on October 20, close to 50 protesters, who claimed to be ‘Shakibians’, protested
“I was to return home, but now I don’t think I can. It is over a security issue, a matter of my own security,” Shakib was quoted as saying by the Sportstar.
Albeit, in the immediate consequence, the protesters were intervened and dispersed by some unverified men as Security personnel too joined them in the cause. The protesters demanded Shakib’s participation in the Mirpur Test. It is worth noting that, The two-match Test series between Bangladesh and South Africa will begin with the first Test scheduled to commence from October 21.
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Shakib Al Hasan has remained out of Bangladesh while playing Test cricket
For the unversed, Shakib Al Hasan was a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Awami League party led by the former Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, against whom the locals protested before she fled the country. Shakib was in Canada during the protests and straightaway traveled to Pakistan for the Test series. He then reached India for the two-match Test series and vowed to play his final Test in Mirpur.
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