The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is confident that Shakib Al Hasan will not encounter any issues upon his return to Bangladesh. This marks his first visit since the fall of the Awami League government, of which he was a member, as he prepares for the Test series against South Africa next month.
Shakib, the country’s most celebrated cricketer, was named in a murder case in Dhaka last month. He became a member of parliament in January but was out of the country during significant unrest, playing in the Global T20 League in Canada when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on August 5. Since then, Shakib has traveled to Pakistan for a Test series, played a county match for Surrey, and is currently in India for another Test series. The case centers on the death of Mohammed Rubel, who sustained gunshot wounds during the protests and died two days later.
BCB’s cricket operations head, Shahriar Nafees, stated that the caretaker government assured him that Shakib will not face “harassment.” He emphasized that the interim government has made its position clear regarding Shakib’s situation. Unless he faces an injury or selection issue, there seems to be no reason for him not to participate in the home series.
Last month, Bangladesh’s law adviser, Asif Nazrul, expressed hope that Shakib would not face arrest in connection with the case. While Shakib received support from teammates on social media following the case’s announcement, his silence during recent student-led protests has attracted criticism. The BCB is awaiting feedback from CSA’s security team regarding the upcoming Tests against South Africa in October.
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