Former Bangladesh cricket team captain Shakib Al Hasan has apologised months later for his silence during the deadly student protests in July, which led to the ousting of the country’s longest-serving Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina Wazed.
Shakib was a member of parliament during the Awami League regime and remained silent during the July protests.
He was playing in a league in Canada during the protests, after which he moved to the US and later joined Pakistan and India for two series. He is also named in a murder case and has not yet returned to Bangladesh.
Now, he stated on his Facebook account that he apologized for staying quiet during the students’ protest and appealed for support at home ground in his last test match.
He wrote, “Assalamu Alaikum, respect to the love of every people in my country. Your prayers and love towards me have felicitated me today as this Shakib Al Hasan in the world court. In the beginning, I remember with respect for all the sacrificial students who were martyred and wounded in the student-crowd led by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. Respect and condolences from the bottom of my heart to them and their families. Although nothing can be fulfilled the sacrifice of a family lost loved one. The pain of losing a child or losing a brother is not worthy of anything.”
“My respect and sincere apologies to the place of feelings of you who have been hurt or hurt due to my absence of all presence during this crisis.
If I was in your place, I would have been heartfelt like this. I was a Member of Parliament of Magura-1 seat for a very short time. To get involved with my politics was basically my birthplace i.e. the opportunity for the development of the people of Magura. You know that in the context of Bangladesh, it is a bit difficult to play a direct role in the development of your area without any particular responsibility. And my want to develop this area makes me interested in becoming a member of parliament,” he stated
Shakib further wrote, “Anyway, at the end of the day, I am a Bangladesh cricketer. When I was wherever I was, I captured cricket from my heart. You guys have taken the way to earn the honor of the world’s best all-rounder by holding this cricket. Your love and support made me today Shakib Al Hasan. When I bat for the country in the cricket field, you all bat with me. Shout out to the gallery, your support has motivated me to play better. The crowd in front of tea shop on the day of cricket match – gave me strength. If I win, you all won. If I lose, you all lost! You know, very soon I’m going to play my last match. From the beginning of my cricket career to becoming Shakib Al Hasan, you have driven this whole journey.”
Requesting his fans to support him in the home ground, he wrote, “This whole story of cricket is written by you! So in my last match, in the last chapter of this story, I want you beside me. I want to take you all along and say goodbye. At the goodbyes, I want to put my hands in the hands of those people whose clap made me play well. At the goodbyes, I want to keep my eyes on the eyes of the people, in my good game whose eyes are filled with joy. Again at my bad game whose eyes are cheating. I hope, not just hope – you all will be with me during this farewell. Everyone will stay together and draw the end of the story, who is the hero of the story – I am not, you.”
Last month, Shakib announced his retirement from Test cricket, but he has expressed his desire to play the last Test against South Africa at his home ground.
The Test between South Africa and Bangladesh is scheduled to start from October 21 in Dhaka.
