Bangladeshi cricket captain Shakib Al Hasan secured a parliamentary seat in the country on Sunday, achieving a resounding victory in a general election that the opposition had boycotted, according to an official statement. The versatile 36-year-old cricketer, who serves as the captain across all formats, triumphed over his opponent by a substantial margin of more than 150,000 votes in the Magura constituency, situated in the western town, as confirmed by Abu Naser Beg, the chief administrator of the district. Describing the win as a "landslide victory," Beg stated that Shakib's success was evident. However, there has been no immediate comment from the cricketer himself, who stood as a candidate for the ruling Awami League party led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The Prime Minister is widely anticipated to secure a fifth term in power, especially since the main opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), chose to boycott the election.

In the lead-up to the election, Shakib acknowledged that he did not perceive any significant obstacles but admitted feeling anxious about the competition. Despite temporarily stepping away from cricket for his campaign, he rejected suggestions that he couldn't effectively balance his roles as a lawmaker and cricket captain, emphasising that he had not retired. Shakib's accomplishments include being the sole individual to simultaneously hold the number-one all-rounder ranking in all three cricket formats, according to the International Cricket Council. He rose to prominence as a teenager, joining the country's premier sports academy, and made his international debut at the age of 19 in 2006 as a batting all-rounder. Known for his rebellious streak, Shakib has faced controversies, including a three-match ban for making a lewd gesture to a television crew and once threatening a spectator with a bat.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)