Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been suspended from bowling in all competitions run by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The development comes in after Shakib Al Hasan was banned by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for an illegal bowling action. The ban comes at a crucial time for Bangladesh as it prepares for the ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled for February next year.
With the Champions Trophy around the corner, this ban comes as a big blow for Bangladesh as they are one of the eight teams set to feature in the marquee event. The news of Shakib Al Hasan’s ban on bowling in international and domestic matches was confirmed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). It said that the star all-rounder will take the bowling reassessment test soon.
Shakib Al Hasan suspended from bowling in all top-level cricket, domestic and international level.
Shakib Al Hasan has been suspended from bowling in all competitions run by ICC-approved national federations, both domestic and international, the BCB said in a statement on Sunday. Shakib Al Hasan had been suspended from bowling by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for an illegal action, and this, the BCB said, was the automatic next step. The board also said Shakib Al Hasan will soon appear for reassessment at an accredited testing centre in an effort to have his action cleared and his suspension lifted.
Shakib Al Hasan failed an independent assessment of his action at Loughborough University, an ICC-accredited testing centre in the UK, earlier this month, after being reported for a suspect action during an English county cricket match in September.
Shakib Al Hasan was investigated for his action after his club Surrey’s loss to Somerset in September. It was assumed that ECB’s ban was applicable to England’s domestic tournaments, but the Bangladesh Cricket Board confirmed that Shakib Al Hasan won’t be allowed to bowl in any top-level cricket tournament. Shakib Al Hasan, however, is eligible to play as a pure batter. Shakib Al Hasan will now have to undergo further analysis at the ICC- accredited testing center and if his action is deemed clear, he will be allowed to bowl again.
This prompted the ECB’s action, and, in accordance with clause 11.3 of the ICC’s regulations for illegal bowling actions, when a national federation suspends a player from bowling in its domestic competitions, the suspension is automatically recognized and enforced by the ICC in international cricket and by all national cricket federations in their respective domestic competitions. This applies immediately, upon receipt of the official notice, without the need for further formalities.
“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has been informed that national team allrounder Shakib Al Hasan has been suspended from bowling in competitions under the jurisdiction of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). As a result, Shakib Al Hasan is also suspended from bowling in domestic cricket competitions outside Bangladesh and in international cricket,” the BCB statement said.
Shakib Al Hasan topsy turvy career in 2024
Year 2024 hasn’t gone well for Shakib Al Hasan His international career took a different turn after his political involvement as a Member of Parliament for the Awami League government. Unfortunately, the political party was dissolved recently. Shakib Al Hasan has announced his retirement from T20Is and stated that the Dhaka Test will be his last next year. The 37-year-old has been overlooked for Bangladesh’s recent series against Afghanistan and West Indies. He is currently playing in the Lanka T10 League for Galle Marvels.
This caps an extraordinary year for the feted Bangladesh allrounder, whose international career is already in a state of limbo stemming from his role as a Member of Parliament in the now-overturned Awami League government after protests in which several hundred civilians – mostly university students – were killed in July and August. He is effectively retired from Tests and T20Is; his wish of a farewell Test at home in Dhaka was thwarted by protesting students.
This is the first instance of Shakib being banned from bowling due to illegal action since his debut in 2006. The ace all-rounder is one of the best cricketers to have ever played the game. He holds the record of being the only cricketer to record over 14000 runs and bag 700-plus wickets.