Bangladesh cricketers have returned home after a dominant 2-0 Test series victory over Pakistan. The team led by Najmul Hossain Shanto arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 11 p.m. on Wednesday.
The Bangladesh cricket team in Pakistan consisted of 16 members, but only 15 returned to the country as Shakib Al Hasan took a flight to London instead. The all-rounder will be playing county cricket for Surrey.
Shakib, who was a Member of Parliament in the government that collapsed after the anti-discriminatory student movement last month, is currently facing tough times. He has been listed as the 28th accused among 156 people in connection with the murder of garment worker Rubel in Adabar on August 5. Subsequently, a lawyer sent a notice to the BCB urging them to bring Shakib back to the country due to his involvement in the murder case. A few days later, another lawyer requested the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate Shakib's assets.
Despite the controversy, Shakib has received strong support from his teammates. Mushfiqur Rahim, Mominul Haque, Shanto, Shoriful Islam and Ebadot Hossain have publicly declared Shakib's innocence on social media. Anamul Haque Bijoy and Rubel Hossain, who were not part of the team, also posted in support of Shakib.
When asked about Shakib at the airport, Captain Shanto said, "Shakib's situation is different. But every player stands with him. Everyone knows how dedicated Shakib is to the game and how passionate he is about it. He's always thinking about the team. When we meet with the Chief Advisor, if the situation comes up, I will say that every player is with Shakib."
Regarding the 2-0 series win, Shanto commented, "I think it is one of the best achievements in Bangladesh cricket."
After clinching the series, a picture of Shanto went viral on social media showing him sleeping with the trophy, reminiscent of Lionel Messi with the FIFA World Cup 2022 trophy. When asked if he was inspired by Messi, Shanto replied, "The victory was very special. As I said, it's the biggest achievement for Bangladesh. I felt like sleeping with the trophy to truly enjoy the moment. It's not about copying anyone, but yes, the trend of sleeping with the trophy started with Lionel Messi."
