Veteran Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has expressed regret for his silence during the student-led protests that caused turmoil in the country earlier this year. In a recent post on his official Facebook account, he acknowledged that he would have felt upset if he were in the shoes of his critics.
Shakib, one of Bangladesh’s most celebrated cricketers, has spoken about the situation for the first time since the fall of the Awami League-led government, of which he was a member of Parliament.
At the time of the protests, the 37-year-old was participating in the Global T20 Canada and faced criticism from a fan during a match regarding his silence on the issue. On his Facebook page, the 71-Test veteran expressed his condolences to those who lost their lives for the cause. He stated:
“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. I extend my deepest respect and condolences to them and their families.”
“While no sacrifice can compensate for the loss of a loved one, nothing can fill the void of losing a child or a brother, 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.”
The left-hander was implicated in a murder case alongside 146 other Awami League leaders during the opening Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in August.
“At the moment of parting, I want to shake hands with those whose applause pushed me to perform better”- Shakib Al Hasan
As Shakib prepares to conclude his Test career during the home series against South Africa, the former captain has urged fans to attend the matches in the stadium. He added in the same social media post:
“You all know that I will soon be playing my last match… I want to say goodbye with all of you around. At the moment of farewell, I want to shake hands with those whose applause compelled me to play better.”
“I want to meet the eyes of those who cheered in joy when I played well and whose eyes welled up with tears when I did not. I believe that at this farewell moment, you will all be with me. Together, we will close the story that, in truth, stars not me, but all of you.”
The two-Test series kicks off on October 21.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
