TDS Desk

A group of fans of star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan peacefully gathered at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium to protest his absence from the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), the country’s premier T20 franchise tournament.

The fans displayed banners with messages like: “Miss you, Mr Shakib Al Hasan 75”, “Shakib you  are a name of victory who will never be forgotten” and “BPL without Shakib is like curry without salt”.

One protester, busy writing on a banner, expressed that not just the BPL but all of Bangladesh cricket feels incomplete without Shakib.

“We all know what Shakib means to us. His absence is a huge loss for tournaments like the BPL and Bangladesh cricket as a whole. It’s unimaginable to have a BPL without him,” he said.

Shakib had been signed by the Chittagong Kings as a direct pick but is currently unavailable for the tournament due to political issues that have prevented him from entering the country.

The seasoned all-rounder has also been in the spotlight recently for his bowling action, which came under scrutiny during a one-off match for Surrey in September. An analysis revealed that his action exceeded the allowable 15-degree limit as per regulations.

Shakib underwent reassessment at an accredited center in Chennai on December 21 and is now awaiting the results.

Meanwhile, long queues of BPL ticket seekers were seen at the Mirpur Swimming Complex, near the SBNS.

Fans, who had been waiting for hours, were surrounded by heavy security, including police and army personnel. The stadium gates were tightly guarded, allowing entry only to ticket holders.

This heavy security follows chaotic incidents since the tournament began. On the opening day, frustrated fans vandalized the stadium gates over ticket shortages. While the second day passed without incident, day three saw enraged fans setting fire to a ticket booth.