Next General Elections: Minister's comment on Mash, Shakib fuels speculations

Will Bangladesh cricket's biggest stars Mashrafe Mortaza and Shakib Al Hasan contest in the upcoming general elections? Or will they not?

Nothing is certain yet, but the issue was a hot topic of discussion throughout the day yesterday after a comment by Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal yesterday.

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“If the two run in the polls, cast votes for them,” he said.

He made the remark at a press briefing after the Executive Committee of National Economic Council meeting.

However, when contacted, the ODI skipper Mashrafe did not make any comment regarding the sensational disclosure, while Shakib, who leads in the T20 and Test fronts, could not be reached by phone.

Explaining his comment to Prothom Alo later in the day, Kamal said, “They [Mashrafe and Shakib] are good human beings, they have huge contributions for the country. I made those comments [earlier in the day] thinking they might run in the election. So I spoke about supporting them.”      

Speaking on a project that was approved at the Ecnec meeting, Kamal said Mashrafe may vie for the election.

"He is a good human being. Vote for him," said the former Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president.

Asked whether Mashrafe would compete in the polls and for which party, the minister said, "Whatever party he would get nominated by, do cooperate with him."

Asked about Shakib, he said Shakib had also matured enough to contest in the elections.

Reporters then queried how they could participate in the elections with the 2019 World Cup coming up. The minister instead asked what was wrong in that.

"I also participate in elections, and at the same time I am with cricket," he said.

Retired from T20, Mashrafe, more popularly known as the “Narail Express”, has been known to be engaged in social activities for quite some time. His next assignment as ODI captain will be the tour of West Indies in July.

Shakib Al Hasan did not travel with the Bangladesh team, now in Dehradun, where the Tigers would be playing a three-match T20 international series against Afghanistan. Shakib is expected to leave for Dehradun on May 31 to join the team.

When contacted, several Awami League leaders denied making any comment in this regard.

“Only Party Parliamentary Board or our president Sheikh Hasina has the authority to give nomination and she will take the final decision,” a top AL leader told the Daily Star wishing anonymity.