The political and social unrest in Bangladesh has deeply impacted its cricketers in various ways. Wicketkeeper-batter Nurul Hasan found himself directly involved in the protests, even being chased by the police in Dhaka on several occasions. Other players, like Akbar Ali and Kamrul Islam Rabbi, have shown public support for the students from the beginning of the protests. Anamul Haque, another prominent Bangladesh cricketer, experienced a more personal loss when his close friend Akram tragically died during a student protest in Dhaka on July 25.
Anamul, who is set to lead Bangladesh A in two four-day matches against Pakistan A in Islamabad, spoke to the media at the Shere Bangla National Stadium before the team’s departure on Friday. He shared how deeply affected he was by losing contact with his family during the unrest, particularly after learning of his friend's death.
He expressed his grief, saying, "I think you might have heard that a friend, who was like a brother to me, lost his life in the protests. We were very close, and thinking about him makes me emotional. I wouldn't wish this kind of tragedy and trauma on anyone. I was in Chattogram and couldn't reach my family in Dhaka. Everyone was impacted by this tragedy in some way." Like many others in Dhaka, Anamul endured sleepless nights after the fall of the Awami League government, as the capital was engulfed in uncertainty and chaos. He recalled, "I was awake from 2am to 5am, looking after my child. I went outside to see what was happening and saw many people in the streets, protecting their property. I don’t know what these people want, but we don’t want to live like this. We want to live in peace, with everyone enjoying their fundamental rights. I believe we all work honestly for that."
Anamul also praised the students for managing Dhaka's traffic in the absence of the police, who had been missing for at least three days. "The students are doing an extraordinary job in controlling the traffic and maintaining discipline. This is the country we have always wanted," he commented. When asked about the silence of prominent figures like Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Mortaza—both MPs from the Awami League—regarding the protests, Anamul was careful with his words, showing unease about discussing such a sensitive issue.
He stated, "I think it’s up to the individual whether they want to speak out or post on social media. I had a traumatic time worrying about my family and the family of my friend who passed away. I spent my time thinking about him. I couldn’t meet my family or visit his. I wrote about him on social media, while others may have chosen differently. They probably did what they thought was best for them."
Looking ahead, Anamul hopes that Bangladesh A's tour of Pakistan will provide the players with valuable preparation for the senior team’s upcoming Test series. He also expressed a desire to bring some positive news to the fans during these challenging times.
"Cricket is a source of emotion and unity for us," he remarked. "This tour will be really beneficial, especially with the Test series in Pakistan that follows. The conditions there are generally favourable for batting, offering opportunities to both sides. We haven’t played Tests in a long time, so I hope we can give everyone something to cheer about."
Bangladesh A will compete in two four-day matches and three one-day games against Pakistan A in Islamabad, with the senior team scheduled to play a two-Test series starting on August 21 in Rawalpindi.