Bangladesh’s Biggest Cricketing Star Bullied Into Apology

Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh’s first global superstar cricketer and a famous all-rounder, recently wrote a Facebook post apologising to his fans.

The apology came after he was severely criticised for staying silent on the infamous student protests that led to the dethroning of Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister of Bangladesh.

“For those of you who felt hurt or disappointed by my silence during this critical time, I sincerely apologize, acknowledging your feelings. If I were in your position, perhaps I would have felt the same way,” said Shakib.

The 37-year-old cricketer is nearing the end of his career and hopes for a swansong in his motherland. He wants to play the first Test match against South Africa before hanging up his boots.

Earlier, the Kanpur Test against India was believed to be his farewell because Bangladeshi authorities were not providing security assurance to the star all-rounder.

The issue stems from Shakib’s former political association. As an Awami League candidate, he contested as a candidate from the Magura-1 parliamentary constituency and won the seat.

Within six months, Hasina was overthrown in a coup, leading to Shakib losing his political legitimacy since the rival Bangladesh National Party (BNP) took control.

The violence and bloodshed left very few Awami League members unscathed, with Shakib being one of the few lucky ones. Even his former colleague Mashrafe Mortaza’s house was set on fire.

Mortaza, a fast bowler, is a well-respected figure in Bangladesh's cricketing circles.

Shakib, however, remained silent, leading to his patriotism being questioned in a country where a democratically elected government was overthrown by violence.

When he asked for security to return home for his last Test match, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) could not guarantee it.

Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Adviser, Asif Mahmud, did say that the state (government) would provide him security, but it also came in the form of what some might term a veiled threat.

He said Shakib the cricketer would be given ample security, but if people chose to see him as a politician, it would be a different ball game.

"But if the general people have outrage towards him because of his political identity... For instance, I have five police constables and one gunman for my security, and if 100 million people out of the 160 million are angry, can these five or six people protect me?” said Mahmud.

Mahmud was a coordinator of the student movement, which led to him securing such a high position of a youth and sports adviser at a young age of 26.

Saying Mortaza had to clarify his political stance, Mahmud asked Shakib to do the same.

Hinting that Shakib could be in danger if he doesn’t clarify his position, Mahmud added, “Even Sheikh Hasina could not be given that security, and she had to flee. So, Shakib has to make his political stand clear."

Shakib has obliged to these demands and appealed to fans to give him a fitting farewell.

The ball is now in the interim government's court.

The probability of Shakib playing his last Test match in his home country of Bangladesh is higher now. But the political hounding in the country makes it hard to be optimistic.