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Bangladesh star cricketer Shakib al Hasan’s political ambition – to contest in the upcoming 12th parliamentary election – has triggered wide discussions and mockery both in the sports and political arena.
Bangladesh captain in all three formats, Shakib earlier this week bought three nomination forms of the ruling Awami League to contest in the election in Magura 1, 2 and Dhaka 10 constituencies.
The ace all-rounder submitted the form in person at the AL central office at Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka Tuesday.
According to the political experts and veterans, Shakib submitting three forms indicated that he is yet to get a green signal from the party high-ups.
Shakib had first showed interest in joining politics ahead of the 2018 parliamentary election.
It is widely known that Shakib was the person responsible for taking former Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza into the political zone.
However, as it happened, only Mashrafe was given the ticket to contest from Narail 2 constituency in the election.
There is wide rumor that AL office did not receive a positive report regarding Shakib’s involvement in politics.
Even now, not many from the political arena are coming in support of the Bangladesh cricket poster boy.
Veteran AL politicians from Shakib’s home town, Magura, indicated that Shakib’s decision to buy three nominations and then submit all three forms is a sign of desperation.
Magura district Jubo League convener Fazlur Rahman while speaking to Bangla Tribune earlier this week said: “There is no relation between Shakib and Awami League. None of his family members have been part of Awami politics. It is really funny for him to even ask for a nomination in any of Magura constituency.”
Meanwhile Magura district Awami League president AFM Abdul Fattah said the Awami high-ups including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will surely consider the facts before coming to a decision.
“Our leader [Sheikh Hasina] is aware of everything. Cricketer Shakib is not involved in Awami League politics and not part of any committee. He would have never bought multiple nomination forms if he had the green signal from the top. It is funny for Shakib to buy so many forms,” said Fattah.
According to media reports, Shakib during his visit to the AL central office to submit the nomination forms was booed by partymen.
Speaking of the sports arena, particularly cricket, discussion has been triggered, from Bangladesh Cricket Board top brass to the groundsmen, that Shakib as a captain of the 15-member Bangladesh team has never been successful so there is doubt how good he will be as a leader of a constituency.
For understandable reasons however, none from the cricketing arena has come on record in sharing their opinion on Shakib’s ambition in politics.
Shakib, as far as performance on the field is concerned, has flourished and emerged as the best cricketer that the country has ever produced.
However, there is a big question mark on his leadership and ethics.
Shakib’s latest failure came in the just concluded ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
Bangladesh had travelled to India with high hopes but finished eighth in the table and had a narrow escape from getting disqualified from the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
The performance had come on the back of a mismanaged dressing room and his vindictive mentality towards long-time colleague and former Bangladesh skipper Tamim Iqbal.
Issues with the International Cricket Council and BCB on ethical and legal grounds have a been a regular for Shakib.
The latest to hit the headlines has been his involvement with a betting site once again.
The Bangladesh captain is under the spotlight this time for his association with a betting website – Babu88.
The association took place during his stint with Montreal Tigers in the Canadian Global Twenty20 League earlier this year.
Shakib’s involvement with a betting company has again shocked the BCB and the sports fraternity given that this is not the first time of such involvement by the cricketer.
The all-rounder was previously embroiled in a difficult situation with the board for his association with a betting company surrogate.
In 2022, Shakib was announced as the brand ambassador of betting site surrogate Betwinner News.
He later reverted from his involvement with the betting company after BCB president Nazmul Hasan had threatened that the cricketer will be excluded from the Asia Cup squad that year if his sponsorship deal with Betwinner News is not revoked.
Gambling is illegal as per the laws of Bangladesh and also BCB regulations.
In 2019, the ICC had banned Shakib from all cricket for two years, with one year of that suspended, after he accepted three charges of breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.
Shakib had failed to disclose to the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit full details of any approaches or invitations he received to engage in corrupt conduct during several international and T20 league matches.
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