New Delhi: The first Test match between Bangladesh and South Africa has been marred by attacks against supporters of veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan even though the player wasn’t part of the contest on Day 1 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Monday.
Shakib was expected to play the match in what was his farewell Test match in front of home fans in the country’s national capital. He announced the wish during Bangladesh’s tour of India last month, but the concerns over is security was always the subject that he would have to deal with after he was named in an FIR for a murder during the student’s protests in Dhaka in August, though he wasn’t present in the country at the time of the horrific incident.
Shakib was part of Bangladesh’s squad for the first Test (October 21-25) but didn’t travel to Bangladesh after sports adviser Asif Bhuiyan asked him not to because of security reasons, as per a report by ESPNcricinfo.
On the eve of the first Test, two groups – one supporting Shakib to play his final Test and the other strongly opposing it – were involved in a clash outside the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
According to a report by news agency Reuters, the supporters of Shakib were attacked with sticks and bamboos. It took army officials to intervene and calm the atmosphere.
“Army personnel quickly came and brought the situation under control,” a police official was quoted as saying by Reuters.
In Mirpur hundreds of supporters of Bangladesh’s best cricket all rounder shakib al Hasan were holding a peaceful demonstration in protest of excuse of mob violence to bar their idol from entering Bangladesh.
Yet in broad daylight , BNP activists, armed with weapons… pic.twitter.com/GE4wVq7eNC
— Awami League (@albd1971) October 20, 2024
Shakib issued apology to fans for being silence
Shakib Al Hasan became a member of parliament (MP) for the Awami League political party in January this year. However, the Sheikh Hasina-led government fall in August, leading to many consequences. The outrageous student’s protests in the country was instrumental in the collapse of the government’s 15-year-rule. Many of those who opposed Shakib playing his final Test weren’t happy with the fact that he was muted during the student’s protests and murders.
The player recently came up with an apology on his Facebook post. He wrote:
“I respect your feelings and sincerely apologise. I want to say goodbye to all of you around. At the moment of farewell, I want to shake hands with those whose applause compelled me to play better.”
