Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh’s star all-rounder, has had a week packed with highs and lows. Just days after a video of him slapping a fan at a polling booth went viral, Shakib secured a resounding victory in the parliamentary elections, becoming the country’s first cricketer-politician.
The viral video showed Shakib Al Hasan amidst a chaotic crowd trying to catch a glimpse of him during the elections. One enthusiastic fan, in the rush, grabbed his arm. This seemingly triggered Shakib, who reacted by slapping the individual. The incident sparked heated debate on social media, raising questions about his temperament and fitness for public office.
https://twitter.com/ourucc/status/1743933207622684884
However, amid the controversy, Shakib emerged victorious at the ballot box. He contested the elections for the Awami League from Magura-1 constituency and won by a massive margin of over 150,000 votes. This victory, described as a “landslide” by the district’s chief administrator, solidified Shakib Al Hasan’s popularity and political ambitions.
Shakib Al Hasan Cricket Career
| M | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 100 | 200 | 50 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 66 | 121 | 7 | 4454 | 217 | 39.07 | 61.96 | 5 | 1 | 31 | |||
| ODI | 247 | 234 | 30 | 7570 | 134 | 37.11 | 82.84 | 9 | 0 | 56 | |||
| T20I | 117 | 115 | 15 | 2382 | 84 | 23.82 | 122.47 | 0 | 0 | 12 | |||
| IPL | 71 | 52 | 12 | 793 | 66 | 19.82 | 124.49 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| M | Inn | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Econ | Avg | 5W | 10W | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 66 | 111 | 233 | 7/36 | 10/124 | 2.94 | 31.06 | 19 | 2 | |||
| ODI | 247 | 241 | 317 | 5/29 | 5/29 | 4.47 | 29.53 | 4 | 0 | |||
| T20I | 117 | 115 | 140 | 5/20 | 5/20 | 6.79 | 20.49 | 2 | 0 | |||
| IPL | 71 | 70 | 63 | 3/17 | 3/17 | 7.44 | 29.19 | 0 | 0 |
While Shakib Al Hasan’s cricket form in the recent World Cup wasn’t stellar, his political debut has been nothing short of spectacular. He has now taken on the dual responsibility of representing Bangladesh on the cricketing field and in the parliament.
This dual role is unprecedented in Bangladesh, and it remains to be seen how Shakib will manage this tightrope walk. Can he balance the demands of international cricket with the responsibilities of being a politician? Will the political arena distract him from his cricketing prowess? Only time will tell.
One thing is for sure – Shakib’s journey as Bangladesh’s first cricketer-politician will be captivating to watch. From the viral slap to the landslide victory, he has already given us a glimpse of the drama and intrigue that await. His story is one of ambition, controversy, and a nation’s hopes resting on his shoulders. As he steps onto this new pitch, the world will be watching to see how Shakib fares in the game of politics.
