Bangladesh | Protests force Shakib to cancel his plan to return home for last Test
The all-rounder was included in the Bangladesh squad for the first Test, which he had announced would be his final appearance in the format
Amid protests against him over his alleged role during the student-led demonstrations that toppled the previous Sheikh Hasina regime, Bangladesh cricketer Shakib Al Hasan was forced to cancel his plan to return home to play in the first Test of the upcoming Bangladesh-South Africa series in Dhaka.
The all-rounder was included in the Bangladesh squad for the first Test, which he had announced would be his final appearance in the format.
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A group of demonstrators, mainly students, submitted a letter warning the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) not to allow Shakib to play on home soil, reported Dhaka Tribune. A group recognising themselves as “Mirpur Chhatro Janata” informed the BCB that they will protest Shakib's appearance in the stadium. On the other hand, Shakib’s supporters chanted slogans in his favour on Friday.
Shakib had earlier expressed concern about his safety if he came to Bangladesh, given the number of Awami League leaders being arrested since August 5, the day their government effectively resigned from power after 15 years. Shakib was a member of parliament from his hometown Magura. He was one of 147 people named in an FIR for an alleged murder during the unrest.
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During Bangladesh’s recent tour of India, Shakib announced his retirement ahead of the Kanpur Test, expressing his desire to play his last Test in front of the home crowd.
However, he also voiced concerns about his safety in Bangladesh due to his political affiliations and his involvement during the protests, which the Sheikh Hasina government attempted to suppress with brutal force, leading to the deaths of at least a thousand people.