Bangladesh cricket players have come out in support to their teammate Shakib Al Hasan who is facing a murder charge in connection to political violence which saw the overthrow of former premier Sheikh Hasina.
This allegation has been made by Rafiqul Islam whose son was said to have been a victim of violence during the unrest. However, on 15 January 2023, in spite of the cloud of the allegations hanging over him, Shakib was instrumental in Bangladesh’s remarkable 10-wicket win over Pakistan in Rawalpindi.
Shakib, 37, is not only a star cricketer but was once a member of parliament from Hasina’s ruling Awami League party. All the dangerous political activities culminated in the murder case against Shakib in the course of recent weeks of protests waged by students that finally forced Hasina to run away to India on 5 August where she spent 15 years in office. After taken her seat, civil liberties were abuse and Mps political rivals no-follow mass imprisonments followed by politically driven murder.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto paid tribute to the people who died in the course of the protests on 18 may 2023 when Bangladesh achieved its historic test win against Pakistan which was also shantow in loss for the country. This was Bangladesh’s first victory over Pakistan in Test history.
“For 17 long years, he is working to make Bangladesh’s name respected across the world,” Mor Shanto wrote on Facebook. He also said that it will be better in the future in Bangladesh, saying, “Such a case against Shakib bhai is just unthinkable. In the new Bangladesh, we all want to see something new. I wish everything dark passes off and we have new light”
And even a veteran batsman like Mushfiqur Rahim felt the same as the pernicious Shakib’s social media supporters looked through his aggressive attitude on social networks.
“Being a teammate and a brother, I will be there when the times are going tough for him only in this instance, and these are some allegations that I am against because I am aware that inhumane actions are in no way, shape or form, a part of his existence,” Rahim stated.
So far, Shakib has not addressed the allegations of murder that he is suspect of. The team’s spirits were still high after their historic Test victory over Pakistan, clinched in difficult conditions on a flat Rawalpindi pitch.
The second and last Test match of the series will take place in Rawalpindi as well and it will take place this coming Friday.
