The President of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Faruque Ahmed, has finally addressed the murder case involving the legendary cricketer Shakib Al Hasan.
BCB President breaks silence on murder case against Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan is widely regarded as the greatest cricketer to have represented Bangladesh internationally. Since his debut in 2006, he has consistently excelled in all three formats of the game. Despite his continued success and fitness, Shakib Al Hasan's future with the Bangladesh national team is uncertain due to the legal troubles he is currently facing. At the age of 37, he still has much to offer but may be unable to do so due to the ongoing case.
Shakib Al Hasan has found himself in legal trouble following the collapse of the previous government in Bangladesh, as he was a member of that party. Since then, Shakib has not returned to Bangladesh and has remained abroad. Amidst the ongoing turmoil in the country, Shakib has been implicated in a murder case filed by Rafiqul Islam, whose son Rubel, a garment factory worker, was tragically killed on August 5 in Dhaka's Adabora. A legal notice has been issued to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), demanding that Shakib Al Hasan be removed from the national team. The notice asserts that, according to ICC regulations, individuals accused of serious crimes such as murder are not permitted to participate in international cricket. This development has been reported by Cricbuzz.
Faruque Ahmed's statement on Shakib Al Hasan's future
Following a meeting with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) directors on Saturday, President Faruque Ahmed addressed the issue of Shakib Al Hasan's future. He stated that a decision regarding Shakib Al Hasan's involvement with the national team would be made after the conclusion of the ongoing first Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, where the all-rounder is currently playing.
"Let me say about Shakib. A case has been lodged. We are yet to get any legal notice. A FIR (first information letter) was given in the case and later there will be an investigation and following that the case will move in one direction or the other," Faruque Ahmed told reporters following the meeting, as quoted by Cricbuzz.
"Look now we are playing Test match and it is very good news that we have played well in the fourth day and tomorrow is the fifth day the deciding day of the Test and I think at this point we did not think about taking any stance. After tomorrow game is over we will sit and take a decision. By this time we can also say something about the legal notice as we will receive the legal notice by that time," the BCB President said.
With growing calls for Shakib Al Hasan's return to Bangladesh for further investigation, he would undoubtedly hope for a favorable decision from the Bangladesh Cricket Board. A negative outcome could lead to a premature end to one of the most illustrious cricketing careers.
"Look the FIR is just the first information letter and they are yet to claim any charge as far as I know and before that it is difficult to take a decision. Look the relationship with BCB and Shakib al Hasan is like player and an employer according to contract and after tomorrow we can think exactly after getting the legal notice and based on that. I cannot withdraw him from middle of the Test match," he further said.
"You know the second Test match is on August 30 and we will take in between as there is a gap and we can think what can be done in this regard," Faruque Ahmed added.
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