Shakib to be given maximum security, says sports adviser

Ahead of the Pune Test during Bangladesh's tour of India, Shakib Al Hasan announced his retirement from Test and T20 cricket at a press conference.

While confirming the end of his T20 career, he expressed his desire to play his final Test match on home soil against South Africa. The experienced all-rounder emphasized the need for security assurances before returning to play in Bangladesh. On the same day, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Faruque Ahmed stated that the BCB would not be responsible for Shakib's security.

A few days later, interim government's Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan addressed the matter. He remarked that Shakib, being a Member of Parliament under a fascist regime, had stirred public resentment, and seeking security assurances in this context seemed unnecessary. The sports adviser explained that while Shakib could be provided with security as a cricketer, it would be difficult to guarantee safety if there was public anger. However, Asif Mahmud recently reversed his stance, stating that Shakib would indeed be given maximum security.

The Women's T20 World Cup kicked off on 3 october, with Bangladesh playing their first match on the opening day. Asif Mahmud was present at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium to watch the Bangladesh women's match. Speaking to local media afterward about Shakib's security, he said, "Look, we will certainly provide the highest level of security for our player. Any allegations are legal matters, which are separate. I cannot comment on that; the Ministry of Law has provided clarity on that issue."

The sports adviser confirmed that Shakib's security would be ensured. Asif Mahmud expressed his desire to see Shakib end his Test career on home soil, stating, "We have already mentioned Shakib Al Hasan's security, and we will ensure that. Personally, I also hope that a player like him, who has achieved so much for the country, gets his farewell in Bangladesh, as he wants to end his Test career here. That is my hope as well."

After watching the first match, Asif Mahmud shared his optimism about the women's team in the World Cup. He asserted that the women's cricket team would no longer be neglected, adding, "The fact that the women's team will no longer be overlooked can be understood by my presence here. The women's team, comparatively, has achieved more, and we are hopeful that they will bring a good result for the country in this World Cup. In the coming days, we will ensure that they receive the recognition they deserve, and that complaints of neglect do not arise. After watching today's match, I am optimistic about the success of the Bangladesh women's cricket team."

Although the World Cup has moved to the UAE, Bangladesh remains the official host of the tournament. Asif Mahmud explained that his visit was primarily to inspect the event as a host. During his trip, he toured the ICC Academy grounds in Dubai and evaluated the cricket infrastructure, with plans to use the insights to improve Bangladesh's cricket facilities.

The sports adviser commented, "This World Cup was originally supposed to be held in Bangladesh, but we could not due to special circumstances. However, Bangladesh is still the host. As the host, my visit is for inspection purposes. I also visited the ICC Academy ground here and observed the sports infrastructure. The main purpose of my visit is to learn how we can adopt this infrastructure in Bangladesh and improve our own sports facilities."