Islamabad, 23 March 2025: Shakib Al Hasan, has voiced concerns over the communication from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) regarding his bowling ban, which ultimately led to his exclusion from the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy.
The all-rounder was suspended from bowling by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) after his action was reported during a County Championship match between Surrey and Somerset in September 2024.
Due to this suspension, the Bangladesh selectors decided not to include him in the Champions Trophy squad solely as a batter.
Shakib, who has played 71 Tests, 247 ODIs, and 129 T20Is, was later cleared to resume bowling after undergoing three separate assessment tests—two in England and one in India.
Before taking the test, he trained with his longtime mentor Mohammad Salahuddin for a week and also worked extensively with Surrey head coach Gareth Batty for two weeks.
Expressing his thoughts on the matter, Shakib stated that he had no major complaints but felt that clearer communication from the board would have been appreciated.
He believed better coordination could have helped in addressing the issue more effectively.
Sirajullah Khadem, a former Bangladesh U-19 cricketer who worked closely with Shakib, explained that excessive bowling during the match might have led to the action being reported.
According to him, fatigue can sometimes cause minor, unintended variations in a bowler’s action, which may raise concerns. However, he assured that Shakib had regained his rhythm and was looking sharp again.
Shakib’s absence from the Champions Trophy is a significant setback for Bangladesh, as he remains one of their most experienced and reliable players.
