Bangladeshi cricketer Shakib Al Hasan’s fans attacked by rivals in Dhaka

Protesters demanding prima cricketer’s inclusion successful the squad were targeted by those opposing his instrumentality home, constabulary say.

A radical of fans calling for Bangladesh cricket icon Shakib Al Hasan to play successful a farewell Test lucifer were attacked by rival protesters wielding sticks and bamboo earlier the archetypal Test against South Africa successful Dhaka, constabulary say.

The prima all-rounder’s fans, self-proclaimed “Shakibians”, had gathered extracurricular the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium successful the superior connected Sunday, asking for Shakib’s inclusion successful the Bangladesh squad.

Police said occupation began erstwhile protesters opposed to Shakib’s instrumentality for the lucifer attacked his supporters, portion the touring South African squad trained astatine the venue.

“Army unit rapidly came and brought the concern nether control,” a constabulary authoritative was quoted arsenic saying by the Reuters quality bureau connected Monday.

Reports successful Bangladeshi media said the protesters demanded “justice” for the cricketer. The fans, immoderate wearing the Bangladesh cricket team’s shirts, dispersed aft being charged by rival protesters.

Shakib was a member of the Bangladeshi parliament for the Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, whose 15-year regularisation arsenic premier curate ended successful August with her fleeing to India pursuing deadly protests that began successful July.

The erstwhile Bangladesh skipper has not been successful the state since the protests began successful July but the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had assured him helium would not beryllium harassed connected his instrumentality and helium was owed to play his last Test lucifer successful the bid that began connected Monday.

However, the 37-year-old pulled retired of the bid aft fans opposing his instrumentality launched protests successful beforehand of the series.

“I was to instrumentality location … but present I don’t deliberation I can,” Shakib told broadcaster bdnews24.com connected Thursday.

“It is implicit a information issue, a substance of my ain security.”

Shakib announced his volition to retire from Tests and T20 internationals successful September and confirmed that the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, to beryllium held successful Pakistan, volition beryllium his past tourney successful the 50-over format.

The prima subordinate expressed his regret for not addressing the protests earlier but urged his supporters to be the Test series.

In a agelong enactment posted connected his authoritative Facebook leafage earlier this month, Shakib said helium was “sincerely apologetic” for not speaking up during the protests.

“I wage my respects to each the students who sacrificed their lives,” the enactment said.

“While thing tin capable the void of losing a kid oregon a brother, I sincerely apologise to everyone who was wounded by my silence. I excessively would person been upset if I were successful your place.”

Regarded arsenic arguably the top cricketer successful Bangladesh’s history, Shakib’s governmental inheritance has made his instrumentality to the state unlikely, particularly with an interim authorities managing the modulation of power.

He was playing successful a home Twenty20 cricket contention successful Canada erstwhile the authorities collapsed successful July, and has not returned to Bangladesh since.

He, however, toured Pakistan and India with the Bangladeshi squad with the support of the interim authorities established to govern the state aft Hasina’s departure.

In a singular vocation that includes 71 Tests, 247 One-Day Internationals (ODI), and 129 T20Is, the middle-order batter and left-arm rotation bowler has amassed 14,730 runs and taken 712 wickets.

Shakib past played an planetary cricket lucifer successful Bangladesh successful May, successful the T20 bid against Zimbabwe.