Bangladesh’s cricket captain, Shakib Al Hasan, has found himself in the midst of controversy after a video surfaced on the internet showing him slapping a fan. This incident occurred shortly before the announcement of Shakib’s victory in Bangladesh’s general election. While the exact details of when and where the altercation took place remain unclear, some suggest it happened about a week before the election results were revealed.
Shakib has gained a reputation for his short temper on the cricket field, where he has been seen arguing with umpires and expressing frustration when decisions don’t go his way. Notably, during the Asia Cup, he faced criticism for his role in having Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews dismissed for ‘timed out,’ a rare event in international cricket. Mathews expressed disappointment, labeling Shakib’s actions as “disgraceful.”
Despite the controversy, Shakib achieved success in the general election, securing a seat in the country’s parliament. Representing the ruling Awami League party, he won by a substantial margin in the western town of Magura.
To focus on his political campaign, Shakib took a temporary leave of absence from cricket. During the campaign, he defended his ability to balance both responsibilities as a lawmaker and the captain of the national cricket team, emphasizing that he had not retired from cricket.
Shakib holds a unique distinction in cricket, being the only individual ranked as the number-one all-rounder in all three formats simultaneously by the International Cricket Council. Despite his success in the political arena, the video of the altercation has stirred controversy and raised questions about the behavior of the prominent cricketer off the field.
