Renowned Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan recently attended a Durga Puja in Kolkata. He was barely there for two minutes on the stage. Yet, his mere attendance has created a storm in Bangladesh. So much so, in no time, Islamists gave him death threats for participating in the Hindu ceremony.

Issuing a public apology, Hasan said that people are misinterpreting his presence as though he had gone there for the inauguration. "As a conscious Muslim, I should not have gone there maybe. I apologize," he said after many fanatics from his country accused him of hurting religious sentiments.

He added that he is a practising Muslim who always observes the religious customs of Islam.

Reacting to the development, political commentator and scientist Anand Ranganathan wrote, "My heart goes out to Shakib al Hasan. For two minutes he forgot who he was and indulged in Hindu idol worship. Then, soon enough, he was reminded of who he was by his co-religionists and has since apologised to them. Matter closed."