The many faces of Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib Al Hasan no longer too long ago posted an emotional message on his Fb internet page, expressing his want to play his final Test on dwelling soil and trying for the meat up of his fans. On the different hand, it raises the are looking forward to – why did he definitely feel the have to are looking forward to for something that is kind of guaranteed from Bangladesh’s cricket-loving public? Shakib’s plea for beef up looks to be to stem from his have controversial actions.

Right thru the coed-led anti-discrimination slouch in July and August, a number of Bangladeshi cricketers expressed their jam, calling for an discontinue to the violence. However Shakib Al Hasan remained restful. This silence drew harsh criticism on the time, particularly since Shakib had been elected as a member of parliament in January below the ruling Awami League banner.

Now, bigger than two months after the protests, Shakib has in the end broken his silence. In the publish, he expressed his want to play his final Test at dwelling in opposition to South Africa. However being named in a abolish case, Shakib requested assurances of safety to soundly play and leave the nation afterwards. But, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Faruque Ahmed and Sports Advisor Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan’s statements had solid doubt on Shakib’s farewell on dwelling soil.

The BCB president remarked that they are able to not vow to present individual safety to Shakib. A pair of days later, the sports adviser pushed aside Shakib’s considerations about his safety as unreasonable, citing public resentment in opposition to him for his role as a member of the executive. He additionally acknowledged as for Shakib to account for his political stance. Despite this, Asif Mahmud later assured that Shakib would be given high-stage safety within the nation.

Almost presently after, Shakib apologised and clarified his political space in a publish, declaring, “I express my utmost admire for the like of every individual in my nation. Your prayers and affection secure helped me change into the Shakib Al Hasan who’s now revered worldwide. First, I pay my respects to the total students who sacrificed their lives, led the anti-discrimination slouch, and had been martyred or injured all around the of us’s uprising.”

Unsurprisingly, this publish has got mixed reactions. Many are serious of Shakib’s timing. Right thru the protests, the final public expected him to keep in touch up, however he remained restful. Now, after the slouch has ended, Shakib’s publish looks to be self-serving, aimed at securing his have pursuits. He additionally apologised for his silence, writing, “I lengthen my deepest admire and condolences to them and their households. While no sacrifice can compensate for the loss of a most customary one, nothing can win the void of shedding an adolescent or a brother. To those of you who had been hurt by my silence all over this serious interval, I admire your feelings and sincerely apologise. If I had been on your house, I too might perchance well well perchance were upset.”

The backlash to Shakib’s publish largely stems from his bid of no activity all around the protests. At the time, he went thus some distance as to are looking forward to a fan’s criticism of his silence, asking, “What secure you ever done for the nation?” Moreover, as the violence escalated, Shakib turned into busy having fun with holidays with his family and his wife turned into sharing those moments on social media. His behaviour all around the nation’s crisis left many deeply disappointed. Now, with a swap in tone, Shakib’s unexpected embrace of the final public raises doubts—is he once more the employ of fans’ emotions for his have originate?

This is rarely any longer the first time Shakib has contradicted himself. He looks to be reasonably adept at doing so. A top instance turned into the controversy surrounding Tamim Iqbal earlier than the 2023 World Cup. Shakib’s feud with Tamim reached its peak, and performed a ingredient in Tamim stepping down from his role as Bangladesh’s ODI captain, citing hurt as the aim. In the waste, Tamim turned into uncared for of the World Cup squad.

Ahead of the World Cup, Shakib remarked, “Taking part in whereas injured is worship dishonest the nation. I specialize in no person might perchance well well perchance also peaceable play except they’re fully fit.” Before all the pieces glimpse, his observation looks to be life like. However when Shakib himself performed with an hurt, it undermined his have words. Shakib competed within the World Cup despite having imaginative and prescient points. He had been dealing with this subject for a year, trying for therapy from specialists in India and Bangladesh.

His imaginative and prescient points had noticeably affected his batting, and despite the impairment, he persevered to play. In February 2024, Shakib acknowledged that he had no points with his eyesight, regardless that he had performed in opposition to Pakistan and India whereas struggling with the connected subject. So, does this indicate Shakib cheated the nation, by his have good judgment?

Shakib had additionally previously mentioned that he would no longer enter politics. On the different hand, he failed to preserve that promise. On 14 September 2013, Shakib wrote in a Fb publish, “I’m no longer becoming a member of politics, and I don’t secure any blueprint of becoming a member of politics in my existence.”

At that point, Shakib had attended a political occasion on the set up a query to of then BCB President Nazmul Hassan Papon. This sparked rumours about him coming into politics. To account for his space, Shakib posted that space. On the different hand, bigger than a decade later, Shakib modified his stance and entered politics, in the end being elected as a Member of Parliament.

Shakib is taken into memoir Bangladesh’s most interesting cricketer, with his establish linked to many of the nation’s proudest cricketing moments. Fans will no doubt want his farewell to be as huge as his achievements. On the different hand, his incapacity to compare his words with actions has change into a sad chapter in his career, one who tarnishes an otherwise legendary space. And Shakib Al Hasan will have to are residing with that, easiest if he cares so.