Bangladesh cricket players have rallied around their teammate Shakib Al Hasan, who is currently embroiled in a legal case related to the recent civil unrest that led to the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto dedicated the team’s historic Test victory over Pakistan on Sunday to the victims of the protests that resulted in Hasina’s departure from power on August 5. In that match, Shakib, who took three crucial second-innings wickets, was seen as a symbol of resilience amidst the turmoil.
Shakib, 37, lost his position as a lawmaker for Hasina’s Awami League party when parliament was dissolved. Shanto expressed his admiration for Shakib on Facebook, emphasizing his 17-year contribution to Bangladesh’s cricketing success and asserting that he is a significant asset to the nation.
A murder case was filed against Shakib and 155 others by Rafiqul Islam, whose child was among those killed in the recent unrest. The case adds to accusations of human rights abuses against Hasina’s government, including mass detentions and extrajudicial killings.
Although Shakib has yet to publicly address the allegations, his teammates have expressed their unwavering support. Shanto described the legal action against Shakib as “unexpected” and voiced hope for a brighter future for Bangladesh.
Veteran batsman Mushfiqur Rahim also took to Facebook to voice his support, declaring his pride in playing alongside Shakib and vowing to stand by him during these challenging times. Rahim dismissed the accusations against Shakib as false and expressed confidence in his integrity.
Bangladesh secured their first Test victory over Pakistan in 14 matches with a decisive 10-wicket win on Sunday, despite the challenging conditions. The second and final Test of the series will continue in Rawalpindi starting Friday.
