Bangladesh’s new youth and sports state minister, Aminul Haque, has urged the resolution of state cases against Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Mortaza to allow the national cricket stars to return to the game. Speaking at a press conference in Pallabi, Mirpur, Aminul described the matter as “state-related” and called for a patient and flexible approach to clearing the legal hurdles preventing their comeback.
“Shakib and Mashrafe are undoubtedly legendary cricketers, but these matters are state-related. I want these cases resolved so that he can return to the game quickly. We want Shakib and Mashrafe to come back to cricket. The cases against them should be resolved at the state level, and we intend to address them in a very patient and flexible manner,” Aminul said.
Shakib has been absent from the national team for an extended period. Since the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024, he has been unable to return to Bangladesh. Several cases were filed against him due to his previous role as a member of parliament, preventing him from resuming his cricketing career. Although Shakib had planned to retire from international cricket after the Test series against South Africa, this was never realised.
Attempts to reintegrate him earlier were blocked following protests outside Mirpur by students and the public. In recent months, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has been asked repeatedly about Shakib’s status, often providing cautious or evasive responses and referring the matter back to the government.
Aminul Haque’s position signals a significant shift. The minister has emphasised that resolving legal cases at the state level will create a pathway for Shakib’s return. He also criticised recent remarks by a BCB director targeting a former cricketer and stressed accountability, saying:
“We will bring every sector under accountability. No one should be able to tarnish the image of our cricketers; we will monitor this carefully.”
Regarding restrictions on journalists’ access to Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Aminul reassured the media:
““I myself don’t know why you weren’t allowed in. You go to the ground tomorrow. I’ll look into it. If there’s any problem, let me know — I’ll tell the CEO so that from tomorrow you can work freely.”
He then phoned the BCB CEO in front of the attending journalists and issued the directive.
Earlier, in a press release, the BCB had mentioned security concerns while outlining the restrictions. Under those guidelines, journalists were permitted entry to the stadium only on match days, for official press conferences, BCB-invited events, and pre-announced training or practice sessions.
Bangladesh is set to travel to India for the T20 World Cup, although security concerns led to Scotland taking their spot in the tournament. Aminul acknowledged the diplomatic complications that prevented participation and indicated that dialogue might have enabled the team to compete.
The minister also raised questions about the current structure and past elections of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, hinting at possible reforms. He said:
“I have previously said that the cricket board elections were questionable. We will sit down and discuss this. We want to move in a positive direction and will address it promptly.”
The former national captain confirmed that the government will take the necessary steps to strengthen the BCB and ensure the overall development of cricket in the country, reinforcing a transparent and accountable administration.
Earlier, Aminul contested the Dhaka-16 constituency in the 13th general election but was narrowly defeated by Jamaat-e-Islami-backed candidate Colonel (retd) Md Abdul Baten. The loss appeared, at least briefly, to stall his ministerial prospects.
However, speculation within political and sporting circles never truly faded. Many had believed that, had he secured victory in Dhaka-16, the sports portfolio would have been his. Instead, his defeat altered the path rather than the destination.
By Tuesday morning, persistent discussion about his inclusion under the technocrat quota turned into confirmation and he joined the cabinet as State Minister for Youth and Sports, marking a historic first for a sportsperson appointed under Bangladesh’s technocrat quota.
