Anamul Haque opens up about tragic loss and Bangladesh protests' effect on cricketers

Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batter and Bangladesh A captain, Anamul Haque, has recently spoken with great sorrow about the tragic loss of his close friend Akram, who passed away amid the ongoing protests in Bangladesh.

Haque described Akram as a brother while revealing the personal impact of the political and social turmoil on its cricketers in Bangladesh. The unrest has affected several cricketers in different ways. Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batter Nurul Hasan was actively involved in the protests, and he was chased by the police in Dhaka.

Anamul Haque mourns the tragic loss of a close friend amid protests in Bangladesh

On the other hand, Akbar Ali and Kamrul Islam Rabbi have also publicly supported the student protests. Ahead of Bangladesh A's departure for Islamabad, where they will play two four-day games against Pakistan A, Haque spoke to reporters at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.

The Bangladesh A captain recalled the traumatic experience of losing touch with his family during the protests. It was really a tough situation for him, as he lost a dear friend in the protests in Dhaka on July 25.

Anamul Haque was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo: “I think you have heard that a friend, who was like a brother to me, died in the protests. We were very close. I get emotional when I think about him. I wish this tragedy and trauma didn't happen to anyone. I was in Chattogram, so I couldn't reach my family in Dhaka. Everyone was touched by this tragedy in some capacity.”

Speaking about the sleepless nights during the protest in Dhaka, he revealed: “I was up from 2am to 5am. I was taking care of my child. I went down to see what was going on. I saw many people in the streets, guarding their property. I don't know what these people want. We don't want to live like this. We want to live in peace. Everyone deserves their fundamental rights. I think we all work honestly.”

Cricket is a place of emotion and unites us: Anamul

He also reacted to the silence from Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Mortaza regarding the protests. They are prominent cricket figures and Awami League MPs, so their silence left many angry, but Anamul looked hesitant to get involved in the controversy. He said that it’s up to individuals whether they choose to speak out or share their thoughts on social media.

Furthermore, the wicketkeeper-batter said that cricket is an emotional sport that brings people together, and he believes that the upcoming Pakistan tour will be beneficial for the team. Anamul noted that the conditions in Pakistan are typically favorable for batting, and he is hopeful that they can provide fans with something to be excited about.

Anamul signed off by saying, “Cricket is a place of emotion. It unites us. This tour will really help us, especially the Test tour that follows in Pakistan. There will be batting-friendly conditions there generally. It gives a chance to both sides. We are playing tests after a long time too. I think we could give everyone something to cheer about.”

Notably, Bangladesh A will face Pakistan A in two four-day matches and three one-day games in Islamabad. Following these fixtures, the senior Bangladesh team will face Pakistan in a two-match Test series, starting on August 21 in Rawalpindi.