Dhaka, May 3 -- For Shakib Al Hasan, politics appears to be the next innings after cricket. And in that innings, he says, there is only one team he wants to play for: the Awami League.

The former Bangladesh captain and ex-Awami League MP says he has no intention of changing allegiances, even though the party's political activities are now banned in Bangladesh.

Shakib was elected to parliament from Magura-1 on an Awami League ticket in the January 2024 election. But his time as an MP was cut short when the Sheikh Hasina-led government was toppled on Aug 5 that year.

He was in the United States with his family at the time and has not been able to return home since.

Speaking to bdnews24.com by phone from Mumbai, where he had travelled fo...