Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan celebrates the wicket of Afghanistan’s Najibullah Zadran throughout ICC Cricket World Cup between Bangladesh and Afghanistan at The Ageas Bowl, Southampton, Britain, June 24, 2019. — Reuters
Bangladesh mentioned on that Friday former star cricketer Shakib Al Hasan had no prospect of returning to play after he joined a media occasion with ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, a convicted fugitive.
Shakib joined the occasion by phone in New Delhi on Wednesday, the place Hasina addressed journalists, two years after she was pressured from energy following a lethal crackdown on student-led protests.
Bangladesh Minister for Youth and Sports activities Aminul Haque mentioned the federal government had beforehand taken a extra open strategy in direction of Shakib, who was a lawmaker for Hasina’s former ruling Awami League get together.
Shakib, who’s presently in Sri Lanka, was amongst dozens going through homicide investigations for a lethal police crackdown on protesters that toppled Hasina’s authorities.
“We had been looking at the matter with considerable flexibility and tolerance. After this, I do not think there is any room to think that way anymore,” Haque mentioned in an announcement.
“Someone who has taken the stage with the autocrat no longer has any opportunity to return.”
Shakib, 39, is Bangladesh’s most profitable cricketer and one of many nation’s best-known sporting figures. He has performed greater than 400 worldwide matches and represented Bangladesh at 5 World Cups.
Rights teams have lengthy accused Hasina’s former administration of abuses together with the homicide of rivals, suppression of opposition events, rigged courts and one-sided elections.
A court docket in Dhaka discovered Hasina responsible in absentia in November 2025 of crimes towards humanity and sentenced her to be hanged. She stays in hiding in India.
All-rounder Shakib introduced his retirement plans in September 2024 after his group’s second Take a look at in India however later mentioned he would play a full collection earlier than calling it quits.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board mentioned in January he might play once more, however his involvement within the occasion in India on Wednesday sparked anger.
