Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladeshi cricket sensation, has formally entered politics, seeking a candidature from the ruling Bangladesh Awami League for the next general election on January 7.
The declaration was made by Awami League joint secretary general Bahauddin Nasim, who told AFP that Shakib had secured nomination documents for three constituencies on Saturday.
Shakib's nomination, however, is subject to approval by the ruling party's parliamentary board, which is headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. According to Nasim, the cricketer is interested in a seat in either his southwestern home district of Magura or the metropolis, Dhaka.
"He is a celebrity and is very popular among the youth in the country," Nasim remarked as he welcomed the cricket all-rounder.
Sheikh Hasina has been the leader of the South Asian country of roughly 170 million people for the past 15 years, and she has been accused of controlling with an iron grip.
The forthcoming elections are expected to be boycotted by major opposition parties, cementing Hasina's position as the likely frontrunner for a fourth term in office. While she has been praised for guiding the country through excellent economic development, Western nations have expressed alarm over democratic regression and allegations of vote-rigging by the opposition in the last two elections.
Given the sport's enormous popularity in the area, the crossover from cricket to politics is not unique in South Asia. However, doing so during one's athletic career is uncommon.
Notably, former Bangladesh cricket captain Mashrafe Mortaza entered politics in 2018, gaining a seat in the ruling party the same year. Mortaza captained Bangladesh in the 2019 World Cup before resigning from cricket to pursue a career in politics.