The Bangladesh Cricket Board is “embarrassed” by the case filed against fast bowler Shahadat Hossain and his wife under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act 2000.
Mirpur Police Inspector (investigation) Shafiqur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune that journalist Khandkar Mozzamel Haque found the 11-year-old injured housemaid, who told him she had been tortured by the cricketer and his wife, in Pallabi Journalist Colony.
Police raided the house of the pace bowler and his wife Nritto Shahadat on Sunday night after Mozzamel filed a case around 11pm on Sunday against Shahadat and his wife. The couple could not be found since then.
The maid, Mahfuza Akter Happy, who appeared to have a swollen black eye, alleged to private television Channel 24 on Sunday night that the couple beat her. The girl was sent to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital One-Stop Crisis Centre for treatment.
“We first need to talk to him to understand the whole incident. But what I have learned from the media reports, the occurrence is unfortunate. This is never expected from a senior cricketer like Shahadat. We are very embarrassed at the moment,” said BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury yesterday.
Nizamuddin said the BCB will make a move given they hear Shahadat’s part of the story, but he also regretted the incident took place. “We are waiting to hear from him but I want to mention it again, we are really embarrassed. It is not the matter of his (Shahadat) image only but also the image of Bangladesh cricket. It always gives a wrong message to everyone when a cricketer is involved in such incidents.”
“All the cricketers should understand their responsibility and the expectation of the country from them. They should always try to make sure that they are not involved with such embarrassing incidents in their personal and social life. They have a duty and responsibility as a national cricketer. Shahadat is a national cricketer and so are Mashrafe (bin Mortaza), Shakib (al Hasan) and Tamim (Iqbal). So everyone’s reputation is tarnished for such unfortunate situations,” he added.
Shahadat last appeared for Bangladesh in May where he lasted just two deliveries in Mirpur before falling prey to knee injury. Following an operation on the injured area, Shahadat was currently undergoing rehabilitation.
Yesterday, a Dhaka court directed police to submit its take on the matter by October 12.