Bangladesh’s Sports Adviser, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, stated that while cricketer Shakib Al Hasan will receive appropriate security as a player, guaranteeing protection from public anger is not feasible.

Shakib, the country’s cricket icon, is currently representing Bangladesh in India. He recently announced his retirement from Test and T20 cricket during the ongoing series and expressed a desire to play his final Test match in Mirpur, contingent upon security assurances from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

However, BCB chief Faruque Ahmed clarified that the board is unable to provide security for individual players, emphasizing that they are not a security agency like the police.

Following these statements, Asif Mahmud articulated a more nuanced perspective on Shakib's security situation, particularly concerning his dual identity as both a player and a political figure. "We have to remember that Shakib has two identities. He is a player and also has a political identity; he ran in an election from the Awami League. People have mixed reactions to these roles," he remarked on Sunday.

He assured that the government would provide Shakib with necessary security measures as a player. Regarding the murder case filed against Shakib, Mahmud noted that the Ministry of Law has indicated that if there is no involvement, his name could be excluded at the preliminary stage.

However, he cautioned that ensuring security from public anger is challenging. “How can I ensure my security with just five police constables and one gunman? If ten crore out of 16 crore people are angry with me, what protection can a handful of guards provide?” he questioned.

The current political climate suggests that Shakib’s chances of playing a match in Bangladesh may be increasingly slim.