Bangladesh star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been banned from bowling in all forms of cricket after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) deemed his bowling action illegal.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed the ban on Sunday which applies to both domestic and international competitions under International Cricket Council (ICC) regulations.
The issue arose following Shakib’s participation in a single match for Surrey in the English county circuit against Somerset in September. Although he contributed modestly with the bat, scoring 12 and 0 in two innings, his bowling action came under scrutiny. An independent ICC-accredited testing center in the UK later ruled his action illegal, leading to the ban.
The BCB clarified that under ICC regulations, Shakib’s suspension is effective worldwide. However, the all-rounder remains eligible to play as a specialist batter during the ban.
"As per ICC regulations, Shakib can undergo reassessment at an ICC-accredited testing center to determine whether his bowling action complies with the rules. If cleared, he will be allowed to resume bowling in international cricket," the BCB explained in a statement.
This marks the first time Shakib's bowling action has been called into question since his international debut in 2006. Known for his unparalleled achievements, Shakib is the only cricketer to have scored over 14,000 runs and taken more than 700 wickets across formats.
The left-arm all-rounder last played competitively on November 30, captaining the Bangla Tigers in the Abu Dhabi T10 League. Although he retired from Tests and T20Is earlier this year, Shakib has expressed a desire to represent Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy next year.
Shakib's immediate focus will now be on rectifying his action through reassessment, as his absence from bowling could impact Bangladesh's plans leading up to key international tournaments.
