Dhaka, May 15 -- For nearly the last two decades, Shakib Al Hasan was the main man of the Bangladesh national cricket team. The whole team seemed to be formed around him. He built the most extraordinary cricket career for the country. He was more than a player, larger than anything else.

But now, none of those excuses for what he chose to do.

Shakib joined the Awami League when the party was in power for around 15 years. They were already accused of enforced disappearances, electoral manipulation, and all kinds of repression of the opposition.

He knew all of these, but still, he joined them.

He wasn't a naive outsider who misstepped into the wrong room- he walked in carefully, stood with them happily, and won a parliamentary seat in t...