DHAKA, Oct 28, 2020 (BSS)—Bangladesh ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan’s year-long ban, which shocked the cricket fraternity, came to an end today (Wednesday), paving his way to return to all formats of cricket.
Shakib is now free to play cricket and join any cricketing activities from tomorrow (Thursday). He is all set to return to competitive cricket with the T20 tournament, which the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will organize in mid November. Shakib is expected to return to the country from the USA in the first week of November.
A year ago, the International Cricket Council (ICC) banned Bangladesh’s then captain Shakib Al Hasan from all cricket for two years, with one year of that suspended, after he accepted three charges of breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code last year.
Under the provisions of the Code, Shakib chose to admit the charges and agreed the sanction with the ICC in lieu of an Anti-Corruption Tribunal hearing. As he fulfilled all conditions, imposed by ICC, during the suspended part of the sanction, he automatically became freed to resume International cricket from tomorrow.
If Bangladesh’s Sri Lanka tour wouldn’t have been postponed, Shakib could have returned to the cricket with International fixture as he was slated to play the second Test. He in fact had completed a four-week training camp with his mentors Mohammad Salahuddin and Nazmul Abedeen Fahim at the BKSP in September. The training was conducted mostly behind the closed doors.
However Shakib is very keen to start cricket, said Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo. But the coach warned everyone not to expect so much from Shakib from the very beginning.
“I spoke to him. He is working hard on his fitness. He is out of the country at the moment. He will also need some time to find his feet, and get his confidence back. We know he is a quality player, so I expect him to have a fantastic 2021 season for Bangladesh,” Domingo said ahead of leaving Bangladesh for his own country South Africa for holidaying.
“Shakib is like a lot of other players, they need to get used to playing some cricket. So if you are expecting him to come straight away, and perform massive miracles, you have to be patient with him,” Domingo added.
“He hasn’t played cricket for a year now. He is keen to play. He is the best all-rounder in the world. But he will also need to find his way. There’s a big difference between facing throwdowns and bowling machines, and facing a 140kph bowler in pressure situations.”
Shakib’s teammates said they are ready to welcome the best all-rounder in the dressing room.
“We know that Shakib has been the best player for so many years, for the Bangladesh cricket team. We are all eagerly waiting for his return to the dressing room. It feels good to know that we can see him, talk to him and spend time with him,” Shakib’s teammate Mahmudullah Riyad told the reporters.
Shakib however didn’t miss so much cricket during the time of his suspension as the Covid-19 forced many series postponed. During his suspension period, Shakib missed Bangladesh’s India tour that included three-match T20 and two-match Test series, Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), two T20 and one Test against Pakistan and a full home series against Zimbabwe that included a one-off Test.
Bangladesh’s next international assignment is likely to be a home series against West Indies in January 2021. Bangladesh have so far had eight Tests as well as a handful of ODIs and T20Is postponed, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.