Bangladesh all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz has donated his prize money from his Player of the Series award in the second Rawalpindi Test to the family of a rickshaw puller who died during the recent protests that led to the toppling of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government.

Mehidy played a pivotal role in Bangladesh’s maiden Test series win over Pakistan, scoring a crucial fifty after the team had lost six wickets for just 26 runs in the first innings. His 165-run partnership with Litton Das at a critical juncture not only saved the innings but also set a new world record for the highest seventh-wicket stand in a Test match after losing six wickets for under 50 runs.

Besides his batting heroics, Mehidy also took five wickets in Pakistan’s first innings on a pitch that offered little assistance to spinners.

This all-around performance earned Mehidy the Player of the Series award—his first on an overseas tour.

“Alhamdulillah, this is the first time I have won the Player of the Series award on an overseas tour,” Mehidy said. “You all know there’s been trouble recently in our country. I want to dedicate this award to the people who passed away during the anti-discrimination protests. One rickshaw puller was injured and later passed away. This is my gift to them.”

The protests Mehidy referred to were initially led by students and began as a movement against the job reservation system in Bangladesh. They quickly evolved into widespread demonstrations against Sheikh Hasina’s increasingly autocratic rule. According to unofficial reports, around 900 people were killed during the protests and the ensuing unrest.