A group of fans advocating for Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan to participate in a farewell test match against South Africa faced aggression from opposing protesters armed with sticks and bamboo on Sunday, according to police reports.
Shakib, a former member of parliament for the Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina, saw his 15-year tenure as prime minister conclude in August with her departure to India amidst violent protests. Shakib, 37, has been absent from the country since the protests began in July, but the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has guaranteed his safety upon return.
Originally scheduled to play his final test match against South Africa in Dhaka starting on Monday, Shakib has yet to return due to public outrage over his silence during the deadly protests. Although he previously expressed remorse for not addressing the protests sooner, he encouraged his supporters to attend the match.
Police stated that the disturbance commenced outside the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium when protesters against Shakib's return for the match targeted his supporters. "Army personnel swiftly intervened and restored order," a police official noted.
Regarded as one of Bangladesh's greatest cricketers, Shakib's political affiliations add layers of complexity to his situation, particularly under an interim government overseeing the power transition. He announced his retirement from test cricket in September, marking the end of a distinguished career that includes 71 test matches, 247 One-Day Internationals, and 129 Twenty20 Internationals, accumulating 14,730 runs and taking 712 wickets.
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