Shakib Al Hasan To Continue Playing For Bangladesh Amid Murder Case Row

Star Bangladeshi all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan finds himself at the centre of both celebration and controversy. While the Bangladesh cricket team is basking in the glory of their historic 10-wicket win against Pakistan in the first Test of the two-match series in Rawalpindi, Shakib’s legal troubles have cast a shadow over the triumph.

Shakib has been implicated in a murder case filed by Rafiqul Islam, whose son Rubel was killed on August 7 during the anti-establishment protests in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) received a legal notice demanding Shakib’s immediate ban from further participation in the series.

Despite these allegations, the BCB has decided to allow Shakib to continue playing. BCB President Faruque Ahmed addressed the situation, stating, “Shakib will continue playing. We received a legal notice asking for his recall, but we have responded that he will remain with the team.” He further explained that the case is still in its early stages, and Shakib will remain part of the squad unless proven guilty.

The BCB has also pledged to provide Shakib with legal support if needed. Faruque added, “The Bangladesh team will travel to India after the Pakistan series, and we want him in that series as well. He is our contracted player, and if necessary, we will give him legal assistance.”

As the second Test concludes on September 3, Shakib is scheduled to travel to England to participate in a four-day match for Surrey. The BCB has granted him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to play, aiming to help him regain his form in red-ball cricket. “Shakib has not played red-ball cricket for a while, so we’ve granted him an NOC to play for Surrey, which will help him adjust,” a BCB official confirmed to Cricbuzz.

Following his stint in England, Shakib is expected to be part of the two-match Test series against India, starting on September 19.