Bangladesh’s veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan had finally cleared his bowling action test after failing two previous reassessments, one in England and another in India.
According to details, the 37-year-old had been suspended following an independent evaluation by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), which deemed his bowling action illegal.
Shakib’s troubles began in September 2024, when his bowling action was reported during a county championship match for Surrey against Somerset. Following the suspension, he had tried to rectify his action but struggled to pass the reassessment tests until his most recent attempt.
Speaking to a media outlet, Shakib expressed his disappointment over the handling of the issue by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), especially in terms of communication. “Look, I don’t have any complaints, but if the communication was better in that case, I would have been happier,” Shakib stated.
Before one of his earlier tests, the all-rounder had requested assistance from his childhood mentor, Mohammad Salahuddin. However, the BCB had denied his request, a decision Shakib believed had impacted his chances of clearing the test sooner and cost him a place in the squad for the previous Champions Trophy.
During his suspension, Shakib had worked closely with his childhood friend and former Under-19 teammate, Sirajullah Khadem, in England to refine his bowling action. Khadem believed that fatigue might have played a role in the reporting of Shakib’s action. “I believe he was reported because he bowled a lot in that match. When you push yourself too hard, especially when fatigued, minor changes in your action can occur, leading to problems,” Khadem explained.
Despite the challenges, Khadem remained optimistic about Shakib’s future. “He is looking sharp now and seems to have regained all his tricks,” he added.
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