Shakib not returning to country tonight

Bangladesh ace allrounder Shakib Al Hasan has
shelved the plan to return to the country tonight for a Test match against South Africa at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium which was supposed to be his final Test match in his career.

The allrounder, though, boarded a flight to reach Dubai on his way to Bangladesh. His Bangladesh-bound flight from Dubai was supposed to leave at 5 PM. But it is learnt he returned to USA, instead of Bangladesh from Dubai.

The veteran allrounder expressed his desire to retire from this format after playing a Test against South Africa in Mirpur but challenges arose due to his involvement with the ousted Awami League regime and accusations of ties to a murder case.

The situation is understood to be resolved after Shakib apologised for his silence during student protests that led to the fall of the Awami League government and appealed for public support for his final Test.

However with some people still venting anger against him in various forms, the close alliances of Shakib advised him not to return to country right at this moment.

For the past few days, some people have protested against Shakib in Mirpur She-e-Bangla National Stadium with various slogans and through wall graffiti. His effigy was also cremated in Dhaka University on Wednesday.

In another development, today some young people again protested against Shakib Al Hasan’s return to the country. They decided to impose ‘Mirpur Blockade’ if Shakib’s name is not removed from the Test squad against South Africa.

At one point, they expressed their desire to go to the BCB office to submit their demands to BCB president. After some discussion, five people entered as representatives of the protestors. They said that they have given the memorandum to BCB security chief Major Haseeb.

After handing over the memorandum, Al Masnoon spoke as the representative of the protestors. There he demanded that Shakib would have to be dropped from the Mirpur Test team. Otherwise they will observe Mirpur Blockade.

However, the team for the first Test against South Africa on October 21 was announced, keeping Shakib in the team. The selectors included him in the team after getting the green signal from BCB, which also gave its nod after getting the clearance from Government.

Shakib, earlier, said, he is able to get the proper security to leave the country after returning home, the second Test against India in Kanpur will be his last Test match. (BSS)