Najmul Hasan shanto comes out in support of murder-accused Shakib Al Hasan

Bangladesh cricket captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has come out in support of veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who is currently embroiled in a serious legal controversy. 

Despite being accused in a murder case, Shakib delivered a stellar bowling performance that was instrumental in Bangladesh securing their first-ever Test victory over Pakistan.

Speaking after the historic win, Shanto praised Shakib for his unwavering dedication and professionalism on the field. 

"When he takes the field to represent the country, from what I understand, he is very dedicated as a person. He does everything that's required to win," Shanto said.

"He pushes everything in his personal life to one side to think and focus on what he can do for the team, what he can do to help a junior cricketer and things like that. He can do these sorts of things in a unique way," he added.

The Bangladesh skipper further lauded Shakib's ability to perform under immense personal pressure, noting, "To be in a situation like that (being accused in a murder case) and still be able to bring out a performance like that and to give his inputs, especially in bowling is outstanding. This is what we expect from him and hopefully, in the next game we get something even better."

Shakib's match-winning spell of 3-44 in Pakistan's second innings, including the key wickets of Abdullah Shafique, Saud Shakeel, and Naseem Shah, turned the tide in Bangladesh's favor, leading to their landmark victory.

However, Shakib's future in the sport is under scrutiny as he faces legal challenges. He was named in a murder case filed on August 22 by Rafiqul Islam, the father of Rubel, a garment factory worker who was tragically killed on August 5 in Dhaka's Adabor area.

In light of these allegations, Supreme Court lawyer Shajib Mahmood Alam sent a legal notice to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Saturday, representing Advocate Md Rafinur Rahman. 

The notice demands Shakib's immediate suspension from all forms of cricket, citing International Cricket Council (ICC) regulations that prohibit the participation of players implicated in criminal cases.