Bangladesh cricket legend Shakib Al Hasan has issued an unconditional apology for his silence during the recent civil unrest that led to the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. This move may pave the way for the all-rounder to play his farewell Test match at home against South Africa. Shakib is targeting the opening Test, set to begin on October 21 in Mirpur, as his swansong.
While Bangladesh is scheduled to play two Test matches against South Africa, it is expected that Shakib will only play the first match in Mirpur before flying to the USA, where he resides with his wife and children. The second Test, scheduled in Chittagong, is unlikely to feature Shakib as he plans to conclude his illustrious Test career with the Mirpur match.
In a post shared on his official Facebook page, Shakib expressed his condolences to the students who lost their lives during the civil unrest and apologized for his silence during the period. He acknowledged the feelings of those who were hurt by his inaction and offered his respect to the victims of the uprising.
“Firstly, I would like to pay my respects to all the students who sacrificed their lives, led the anti-discrimination movement, and were martyred or injured during the people’s uprising,” Shakib wrote. He went on to say, “To those of you who were hurt by my silence during this critical period, I respect your feelings and sincerely apologize. If I were in your place, I too might have been upset.”
Shakib Al Hasan, a former Member of Parliament in the Hasina government, has been named in a murder case in Bangladesh. His involvement in the country’s political landscape has complicated his situation, with the recent student protests against job quotas leading to the overthrow of Hasina’s government. Despite these challenges, Shakib is determined to play one final Test match, contingent on the provision of adequate security by the current regime.
Having already retired from T20Is following the World Cup in June, Shakib went to the UAE after the recent Test series in India, where he expressed his desire for a final five-day game at home.
