Cricketer Shahadat apologises

Cricketer Shahadat Hossain on Thursday apologised to the nation, country’s cricket board and his team-mates nearly four months after police charged him with assaulting an 11-year-old child maid.

‘I am repentant for an unwarranted incident involving me and apologise to the whole country and nation,’ Shahadat said in a statement. ‘I apologise to the Bangladesh Cricket Board president, officials and my team-mates.

Police in December last year pressed charges of assault and torture against the 29-year-old cricketer and his wife Jesmin Jahan after the maid was found on a road crying with black and swollen eyes.

The cricketer, who played 38 Tests and 51 one-day internationals, was released on bail after two months in custody since October 5 when he handed himself in to police.

His wife, who was arrested before Shahadat surrendered to the police, also has been granted bail.