Since the last India series, Shakib Al Hasan has not been seen in the Bangladesh jersey. He couldn’t even play the farewell Test against South Africa on home soil. Moreover, it’s almost certain that Shakib won’t be playing in the upcoming BPL starting on December 30. This has left Dhaka Capitals’ coach Khaled Mahmud Sujon quite disappointed.
Speaking to the media after Dhaka Capitals’ practice session on Thursday (December 26), Sujon said, “Shakib is the number one best player. His absence… It’s true that Shakib won’t play cricket forever. But the fact that he can’t play for Bangladesh is a kind of failure for us, I believe.”
He added, “He entered politics towards the end of his career. But the people of Bangladesh know him as a cricketer, as a world-class player. His rise was as a cricketer. I can’t comment on how right or wrong his political involvement was.”
Sujon believes that Shakib’s 15-year cricketing career shouldn’t be overshadowed by his 8 months in politics. He said, “We’ve equated those 8 months with such a long and successful career. That’s the most disappointing part. I think the country’s greatest player not being able to play in the BPL will upset many. Players might not say it openly, but I believe everyone, especially those who are close to Shakib, feels this way. Shakib has always supported and helped everyone. It just feels bad, that’s all.”
