South Africa set for historic series, with or without the Shakib sub-plot

To South Africa will go the honour of playing the first international matches in Bangladesh since the fall of the despised government led by Sheikh Hasina. CSA confirmed on Monday that they had green lit two men's Tests in Dhaka and Chattogram starting next month. Thereby hangs a context focused on no less a figure than Shakib Al Hasan.

Hasina's increasingly autocratic rule as Bangladesh's prime minister ended in chaos on August 5, when she fled the country in the wake of weeks of protests against job reservation for descendants of veterans of the liberation war fought against Pakistan from March to December 1971. Hundreds of protestors are estimated to have been killed and thousands more injured in brutal violence by police and groups loyal to Hasina.

Shakib is Bangladesh's greatest and most prominent player, and thus the focus of millions of his compatriots' obsession with the game. He is his country's leading wicket-taker in all three formats, and their highest runscorer in T20Is and the third-highest in Tests and ODIs. He is Bangladesh's second most capped player in all three formats.

But Shakib isn't only a cricketer. In November 2023, he joined Hasina's party, Awami League (AL), and won a seat in parliament in the elections held in January. Worse, for many Bangladeshis, was that he said nothing publicly while protestors were being attacked and killed.

Last month, Hasina and Shakib were among 147 people charged in connection with the murder of a protestor, garment worker Mohammed Rubel, who was shot in Dhaka on August 5. He died two days later. The Daily Star reported that the case, which was opened by Rubel's father, Rafiqul Islam, argues that "some of the accused as per instruction directly or indirectly from some others opened fire while hundreds of students including Rubel were protesting".

Shakib was named despite the fact that on August 5 he was in Brampton playing for Mississauga Panthers against Surrey Jaguars in the Global T20 Canada. His most recent match in Bangladesh was a T20I against Zimbabwe in Dhaka on May 12. Will that be the last time he is in action for his national team at home?

He announced his retirement from T20Is on Thursday, when he also said he will quit ODIs after the Champions Trophy in Pakistan in February and March next year. Bangladesh currently have no ODIs scheduled at home. Which brings us to the Test series against South Africa.

Shakib said on Thursday he would like to play his last game in the format in the first match of the rubber, at Mirpur in Dhaka from October 21 to 25, before moving permanently to the United States. But, mindful that his previously adoring public have turned on him, he has sought assurances from the new, anti-AL government that he would be safe. "Going back to Bangladesh is not a concern, but leaving Bangladesh once I go there is dangerous," Shakib told a press conference.

The authorities have said he would be as secure as any other national player, but they have also called on him to make clear where he stands politically. That isn't a guarantee. Shakib could well think he will be protected as a cricketer but not as a politician. And that may be enough to dissuade him from taking the risk of playing.

There might not even have been a series to play in Bangladesh because of the unsettled political situation in the country. That is, until a CSA release on Monday said: "A security assessment was recently conducted by CSA's operations manager, team security manager, safety and security consultant, and a representative of the South African Cricketers' Association. CSA has given the series a go-ahead based on the recommendations made by the team post an in-loco inspection visit to Bangladesh."

Asked during a press conference on Monday what he made of the Mirpur Test marking the end of Shakib's career in the format, South Africa coach Shukri Conrad said: "Players sign off, so we're used to the excitement around that. This is why we play international cricket, because there are subplots and stories to go with the main event. That makes it even more exciting and challenging. They want to send him out on a high, and he'd want to go out on a high. We're there to spoil the party for them."

It seems Shakib's party might already have been spoilt, if the mood music in Bangladesh is to be taken seriously. If that is so, the Kanpur Test, which will end on Tuesday, could be his last.