Sohan Takes a Strong Stand on Political Involvement of Cricketers and Cricket Board Officials

From the beginning of the anti-autocracy movement, Nurul Hasan Sohan has been aligned with the student and public protests. Now, Sohan has expressed his strong stance regarding the political involvement of cricketers and officials of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). He subtly referenced Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, who both contested parliamentary elections while still active in cricket. Sohan has stated that cricketers should avoid entering politics before retiring from the sport.

Speaking at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, the national team’s occasional player Nurul Hasan Sohan voiced his opinion firmly, saying, “It is never appropriate for active players to be involved in politics. Politics is a significant matter. It is difficult to dedicate time to national team duties while being engaged in politics. If someone wants to pursue politics, they should do so after retiring from cricket.”

The anti-discrimination student movement led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5. Since then, a wave of change has swept through various sectors of the country, including cricket. BCB President Nazmul Hasan Papon and cricketers Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Shakib Al Hasan have faced criticism. BCB officials are reportedly in hiding.

Sohan has also pointed fingers at cricket organizers, saying, “There are some individuals about whom I have doubts. Those who come to cricket with a business mindset or personal ambitions should not be involved. Organizers should not come here just to make a living. We cricketers earn our livelihood through sports. Alhamdulillah, everything I have, my car and house, is thanks to cricket. However, organizers should come already established and committed to the betterment of cricket. There should be no expectation of making a personal fortune from this.”