Photo Credit: Insatgram Photo of @shaki_b75
Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been asked by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to undergo an official review of his bowling action.
The request followed concerns raised by on-field umpires over his action during a one-off appearance for Surrey in the County Championship. Umpires Steve O’Shaughnessy and David Millns reported the 37-year-old after he bowled over 63 overs in a critical match against Somerset at Taunton in September, according to a report.
This appearance marked Shakib’s return to the County Championship since his previous stint with Worcestershire in 2010-11. He joined Surrey on a short-term contract to bolster their campaign for a third consecutive title, filling in as the team faced the absence of eight players on England duty. Both of Surrey’s primary spinners, Will Jacks and Dan Lawrence, were unavailable.
Although Shakib delivered an impressive performance, claiming nine wickets, Somerset staged a remarkable comeback, winning by 111 runs and momentarily slowing Surrey’s title progress.
While Shakib did not receive any no-balls for throwing during the game, the umpires nevertheless considered his action “suspect,” prompting the ECB to initiate a review. Currently, Shakib is not suspended, and discussions are underway to arrange his assessment at an approved testing facility, likely in the coming weeks.
This is the first instance in Shakib’s long career that his bowling action has faced scrutiny. Over two decades, he has left a significant mark in cricket, taking 712 wickets in 447 international matches, including 246 in 71 Tests.
This examination of Shakib’s action comes amid uncertainty in his international career. Last month, he withdrew from Bangladesh’s Test squad for the South Africa series in Mirpur, citing security concerns, which led to public protests in Bangladesh. This followed his involvement with the Awami League-led government, recently unseated by a historic student-led protest movement in July.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
