The Bangladesh national cricket team has rallied behind their star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who is facing a case of alleged murder connected to the recent unrest that led to the toppling of the government.

Shakib, a former member of parliament from the ousted Awamy League party, has been accused along with 155 others in a murder case filed by the father of one of the hundreds killed during the civil protests that forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee to India.

Despite the serious allegations, Shakib’s teammates have publicly expressed their support for him. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto described Shakib as “a big asset of our country” who has proudly represented Bangladesh for 17 years.

Shanto said the team’s historic first Test win against Pakistan on Sunday was a tribute to the victims of the recent unrest.

Veteran batsman Mushfiqur Rahim also took to social media to voice his unwavering support for Shakib, stating that he is proud to play alongside the “champion” and that he does not believe the “false allegations” against him.

The protests that led to Hasina’s downfall were marked by widespread accusations of abuses by her government, including the mass detention and extrajudicial killing of political opponents.

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Shakib, who lost his parliamentary seat when the legislature was dissolved, now finds himself embroiled in the aftermath of the civil unrest.

As Bangladesh’s cricketers rally behind their embattled teammate, the case against Shakib highlights the complex political landscape in the country and the challenges faced by public figures caught in the crosshairs of wider societal upheaval.