Shahid Afridi Stirs the Pot in Bangladesh Cricket’s Political Drama
If there’s one person not afraid to stir things up, it's Shahid Afridi. Just days into the BPL 2025, Afridi sat back in a Dhaka hotel room, cameras rolling for his YouTube channel, and threw a not-so-subtle jab at the messy politics gripping Bangladesh cricket. The audience wasn't just fans online—a handful of top cricketers, including Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Nabi, and Shaheen Afridi, were right there with him.
What kicked things off? Afridi casually turned to former Bangladesh skipper Tamim Iqbal and asked, “You’ve completely retired, finished?” Tamim nodded, confirming in public what’s been the open secret—he’s done with the national team. No drama or drawn-out explanations; just a simple admission that would’ve probably caused shockwaves if not for the events leading up to this moment.
Remember, Tamim hasn’t played for Bangladesh since September 2023. He was axed from the World Cup squad after a highly public rift with Shakib Al Hasan, and since then, the drumbeat about team politics hasn’t slowed.
Afridi’s Tongue-in-Cheek Dig: Cricket and Politics Don't Mix
But it was Afridi’s response to Tamim’s own tease that made headlines. Jokingly, Tamim asked Afridi if he’d ever consider entering politics. Afridi didn't even pause. "I have seen what has happened to you guys; I don't want to get into it anymore," he shot back. The reference wasn't lost on anyone in the room—or anyone who's followed Bangladesh cricket for even a minute. He was nodding to the sagas involving Mashrafe Bin Mortaza’s political career and Shakib Al Hasan’s off-field controversies, both of which have fuelled heated debates in Bangladeshi cricket circles.
For a country that loves its cricket fiercely, the boundaries between sport and politics have blurred, sometimes to dizzying effect. Mashrafe, a national hero on the field, entered Parliament after his playing days, but it came with its own set of headaches and public scrutiny. Shakib, meanwhile, has often found himself the center of stormy controversies both on and off the pitch—his high-profile conflicts, political statements, and even bans have played out in public view, often mixing sports news with politics.
The conversation in that Dhaka hotel wasn’t staged. With Mohammad Nabi and Shaheen Afridi—both respected in international cricket—watching, the talk touched on how quickly the game's pressures spill over. Tamim may still technically qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy, but he showed zero appetite for more high-stakes, high-drama matches for Bangladesh.
Behind the relaxed laughter, the BPL 2025 moment captured a raw snapshot of where Bangladesh cricket is at—a sport shadowed by political intrigue, superstar rivalries, and big personalities unafraid to call things as they see them. Sometimes, the honest off-field conversations dig deeper than anything happening in the stadium.
