“New light will come”: Bangladesh skipper breaks silence on murder row involving Shakib Al Hasan

Bangladesh players have rallied round teammate Shakib Al Hasan, who faces a case of alleged murder connected to unrest that toppled the government earlier this month. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said that his team’s maiden Test win against Pakistan on Sunday, was a tribute to the hundreds killed during protests that forced former premier Sheikh Hasina from power. 

In a Facebook post that was posted on Monday, Shanto said that the 37-year-old Shakib is a great asset to their country.

“He’s been raising the name of Bangladesh in the world for 17 long years,” Shanto said.

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Rafiqul Islam, the father of one of the hundreds killed during the civil unrest, filed a murder case against Shakib and 155 others in Dhaka on Thursday. Shakib has still not spoken publicly about the case, but his teammates said that they were offering him support.

“Such a case against Shakib bhai (brother) is unexpected. In the new Bangladesh, we all want to see something new. I hope all the darkness will pass off and new light will come,” Shanto added.

Another legendary cricketer from the country, Mushfiqur Rahim  said on Facebook, “I have said it many times before, and I will say it again, I am proud to play alongside a champion like Shakib. As a teammate and a brother, I will be there during his tough times, and I do not support the false allegations made against him because I know he would never engage in inhumane actions.”