Star cricketer Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh has finally spoken out about the recent political unrest in his nation. In addition, he has expressed regret for his earlier quietness and said that he wants to say goodbye to the game he loves in a respectful manner.
The all-rounder started by paying tribute to the students who died or were injured during the anti-discrimination movement. He has become a contentious figure in recent months because of his political activity and absence from Bangladesh during the protests.
“First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude to all the students who gave their lives in the people’s uprising, spearheaded the anti-discrimination struggle, and suffered injuries or martyrdom. I send them and their families my sincere sympathies and respect. Though nothing can make up for the death of a sibling or child, no sacrifice will ever fully heal the pain of losing a loved one. I truly apologize to any of you who were offended by my silence during this difficult time. Shakib posted on his Facebook page, “I might have been unhappy too if I were in your position.
My main reason for getting involved in politics was to help my hometown of Magura develop: Shakib Al Hasan
A point of contention had been Shakib’s quiet during the July rallies that brought down the Awami League government. Being the most well-known cricket player in Bangladesh and a member of parliament, he received backlash for his silence on the matter. The cricketer was also mentioned in a murder case connected to the protests, along with other leaders of the Awami League. Speaking on his brief time in politics, Shakib stated that his main goal was to help his community of Magura grow.
“For a limited period, I represented the Magura-1 constituency in parliament. My main motivation for getting involved in politics was my wish to see my hometown of Magura grow. Without having a specialized job in Bangladesh, it is difficult to directly effect the growth of one’s location, as you are aware,” he remarked.
Shakib said he was looking forward to leaving the game with his supporters on his side. On September 26, he declared his retirement from Test cricket, with the intention of playing his final game against South Africa in Dhaka.
“As everyone is aware, I will shortly be playing my final match. With all of you here, I would like to say goodbye. I would like to shake hands with those whose cheers inspired me to perform better at this moment of farewell. I want to look into the eyes of those who, when I performed well, cheered and who, when I didn’t, were emotional.
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I think you’ll all be here with me for this final goodbye. Together, we will bring an end to the tale that, in reality, stars not me but each and every one of you,” he said.