Bangladesh players rally behind accused teammate Shakib Al Hasan / Photo: Farooq NAEEM - AFP
-
UK hard-right leader Farage faces new allegations over gifts
-
Real Madrid sign Dumfries from Inter Milan
-
OPEC+ raises quotas again as Middle East calms
-
At the foot of Mount Olympus, a return to ancient Greek heritage
-
Azam to captain Pakistan on West Indies and England Test tours
-
Turkey eyes F110 fighter jet engines as Trump comes to town
-
Revival hopes grow for long-closed Greek Orthodox seminary off Istanbul
-
England, Mexico take centre stage in Azteca blockbuster
-
Trump hails US, blasts 'communists' in 250th anniversary speech
-
'Very dangerous' super typhoon nears US Pacific islands
-
Taiwanese film hunters rescue ageing reels from bygone era
-
Australia stand by under-fire Popovic after World Cup exit
-
Trump arrives for US 250th birthday speech after storm delay
-
Afghan car trade screeches to a halt due to regional wars
-
All Blacks wing Fineanganofo's debut began 'in the toilet, spewing'
-
Pipe dreams: Bangladesh surfers chase waves at Asian Games
-
Xhaka -- Switzerland's World Cup rock born to be skipper
-
England can write new Azteca history by meeting Mexico challenge, says Tuchel
-
Trump pushes ahead with US 250th birthday speech after storm delay
-
Paraguay coach says team 'fought like lions' in World Cup loss to France
-
Australia's Schmidt rues missed opportunities as Wilson defends Donaldson
-
Violent crime wave beleaguers Israel's Arab youth
-
Deschamps hails France for staying cool in World Cup win over Paraguay
-
Severe weather disrupts Trump's America 250 celebration
-
Japan ready for Ireland after 'big statement' against Italy
-
Judge, Trout among MLB All-Star Game starter selections
-
Mbappe says France happy 'to get hands dirty' after World Cup win
-
Davis-Woodhall opens up about depression after Eugene win
-
France beat Paraguay with Mbappe penalty to reach World Cup quarter-finals
-
France battle past Paraguay to set up Morocco World Cup showdown
-
Ukraine denies Moscow claim of seizing strategic stronghold
-
Jefferson-Wooden holds off Richardson for Eugene 100m win
-
Dinusha shines for Sri Lanka on second day of West Indies Test
-
Stopping Haaland no mystery for Brazil, says Ancelotti
-
Julian Quinones, Mexico's not-so-secret World Cup weapon
-
Coach says Morocco 'no longer a surprise' after reaching World Cup quarters
-
Erasmus celebrates equalling record with win for weakened Springboks
-
Tuipulotu guides Scotland past Argentina with record score
-
'I'm going with him': families fear for bodies of Venezuela's quake dead
-
'Proud' Marsch says Canada better side in World Cup exit
-
Venezuela quake death toll rises to nearly 3,000
-
Norway must handle occasion against Brazil, says Solbakken
-
England unhappy with Rita Ora show before T20 World Cup final
-
Bethell upstages 'unbelievable' Sooryavanshi as England beat India
-
Morocco end Canada World Cup dream to reach quarters as France face Philly heat
-
'No point in racing' says frustrated Verstappen after British GP qualifying
-
Ruthless Morocco break Canadian hearts to reach World Cup quarters
-
Tour de France yellow gives Vingegaard crash closure
-
An 'angel' in darkness after Venezuela's deadly quakes
-
Smiling Antonelli proves all-round quality with pole at British GP
Bangladesh players rally behind accused teammate Shakib Al Hasan
Bangladesh players have rallied round teammate Shakib Al Hasan, the ousted lawmaker who faces a case of alleged murder connected to unrest that toppled the government earlier this month.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said his team's maiden Test win against Pakistan on Sunday, in which all-rounder Shakib took three second-innings wickets, was a tribute to the hundreds killed during protests that forced former premier Sheikh Hasina from power.
Bangladesh endured weeks of student-led protests that resulted in Hasina fleeing to India by helicopter on August 5, ending 15 years of autocratic rule.
Shakib, 37, who lost his job as a lawmaker for Hasina's Awami League party when parliament was dissolved, is "a big asset of our country," said Shanto in a post on Facebook late Monday.
"He's been raising the name of Bangladesh in the world for 17 long years," Shanto said.
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.
Hasina's government was accused of widespread abuses, including the mass detention and extrajudicial killing of political opponents.
Hasina, former ministers and other ex-lawmakers are among those also accused.
Shakib has not spoken publicly about the case, but his teammates said they were offering him support.
"Such a case against Shakib bhai (brother) is unexpected," Shanto added.
"In the new Bangladesh, we all want to see something new. I hope all the darkness will pass off and new light will come."
Veteran batsman 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."
Bangladesh achieved their first victory over Pakistan in 14 Tests with a thumping 10-wicket win on Sunday after both teams struggled in hot conditions on a flat Rawalpindi pitch.
The second and final Test will also be played in Rawalpindi from Friday.
O.Brown--AT
