A scuffle erupted outside the Sher-E-Bangla National Stadium on Sunday between groups supporting and opposing Shakib Al Hasan, just a day before Bangladesh’s first Test against South Africa.
A group known as “Shakibians” gathered outside the stadium to chant for Shakib’s reinstatement in the Test squad but was chased away by another faction, all while security forces were present. Despite the tension, no injuries were reported, although it was reported that one person was detained by security.
Before this incident, the two pro and anti Shakib groups had been protesting separately.
Shakib had been named in Bangladesh’s squad for the first Test against South Africa last Wednesday. However, a student group called Mirpur Chhatra Janata sent a letter to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) demanding his removal. Soon after, Shakib announced to media that he would not travel to Bangladesh for the game. The BCB officially withdrew him the following day, with sports adviser Asif Bhuiyan confirming that Shakib was advised against traveling due to security concerns.
Shakib’s fans first gathered outside the stadium on Friday to demand his return to the squad and repeated the protests on Sunday, this time met with security barricades.
Shakib has mostly been living in New York City these days and has not been in Bangladesh since May. During the political protests that led to the ousting of the Awami League government, Shakib, who was a member of parliament for the party, was in Canada playing in Global T20 Canada. Since then, he has played cricket in Pakistan, India, and briefly for Somerset in the County Championship.