Bangladesh start their practices camp at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Friday ahead of their first Test of the two-match series against South Africa’ scheduled to start on 21 October at the same venue. Cricket takes a backseat as all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan turns out to be the major talking point ahead of the two-match Test series between South Africa and Bangladesh.The Shakib drama met to its conclusion when Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced Hasan Murad would replace him for the opening Test against South Africa. But it certainly seemed that the climax had a long-lasting effect, if not anything else.While the South African’s opening day practice session on Thursday at the same venue was overshadowed by some off-field incidents as a protest took place at the main entrance of the stadium where some 100 protesters carrying different banners and boards were trying to grab the attention of the BCB and demanded Shakib, a former lawmaker of the ousted Awami League government, should be barred from playing the opening Test against South Africa
.There were speculations that both ‘pro-Shakib’ and ‘anti-Shakib’ groups will come to the venue on Friday when the hosts will start their training but it did not turn out to be the case that eventually avoided any kind of untoward scene.However, Shakib’s fans came to the stadium and demanded that the all-rounder should be allowed to fulfil his last wish to end his Test career at the Home of Cricket.When the Bangladesh team were leaving the ground for the team hotel, protesters shouted loudly ‘Shakib…, Shakib…, Shakib…’ Shakib…’along with placards in front of them that were keenly followed by the players inside the team bus. The people of Bangladesh seemed to be divided into two groups as far as Shakib’s farewell Test at home was concerned with one group protesting against his homecoming while the other wanted to have one last chance to see their star performer in front of their eyes at his very own venue, which eventually seemed to remain as an unfulfilled wish as the ace all-rounder is not coming back home.For Bangladesh, the Test series certainly looks to be the beginning of a new era as they will start planning life without Shakib as they replaced him with Hasan Murad for the opening Test against South Africa and with a new plan of action that is likely to be placed by former West Indian opener Phil Simmons to give the tourists a run for their money.
