Protesters demanding star cricketer’s inclusion in the team were targeted by those opposing his return home, police say.

A group of fans calling for Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan to play in a farewell test against South Africa were attacked by rival protesters wielding sticks and bamboo on Sunday, police said.

A group of people attacked Shakib Al Hasan's fans during a protest in Dhaka on Sunday amid tight security, an eye witness said.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has said Shakib Al Hasan's absence from what should have been his farewell Test was "unfortunate," but urged his team to focus on the task at hand - the first match against South Africa starting on Monday.

A group of fans calling for Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan to play in a farewell test against South Africa were attacked by rival protesters wielding sticks and bamboo on Sunday, police said.

The absence of Shakib Al Hasan has come as a relief to South Africa as they embark on a two-test series in Bangladesh but stand-in captain Aiden Markram does not expect the challenge to be any easier.

Fans of Shakib Al Hasan, a Bangladeshi politician and cricketer, on Friday gathered outside the Mirpur Cricket Stadium in the capital Dhaka to protest ahead of the BAN vs SA Test series at home. Shakib flew from the United States to join the Bangladesh team but cancelled the trip to Dhaka while he was in Dubai due to `security concerns`.