Cricketer hunted after petrol attack

Babu (centre) celebrates taking a wicket

By Waliur Rahman BBC reporter in Dhaka

Police in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, are hunting a former international cricketer after his girlfriend was set on fire.

Pace bowler Shafiuddin Ahmed Babu, 29, was said to have been involved in a row over marriage plans with Monika Afroze Mimi.

The victim's family members alleged that the cricketer threw petrol over the architecture student and then set her alight.

Babu was said to have rowed over marriage plans

Doctors in the Dhaka hospital where she was admitted said she had 70% burns to her body and her condition remained critical.

Police said the incident took place on Saturday when the woman was entering her student dormitory in the city.

Her family members, who live outside Dhaka, were informed about 12 hours later.

The cricketer, known as Babu, has played several One Day International matches for the Bangladeshi national team, but has been out for some time due to poor form.

He now plays for a local team.

The couple had been together for some years, friends said.