For ‘illegal bowling’, ECB suspends Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan
Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been suspended from bowling in all competitions organized by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) after exceeding the maximum permitted elbow extension of 15 degrees. This decision follows an independent assessment conducted at Loughborough University, which confirmed that Shakib’s bowling action was illegal.
The scrutiny began during his one-off appearance for Surrey in September, where umpires raised concerns about his action. Despite taking nine wickets in that match, the ECB’s regulations necessitated a review after suspicions were reported. The suspension took effect on December 10, 2024, following the assessment results.
To lift the ban, Shakib must undergo a reassessment and demonstrate compliance with the elbow extension regulations. The 37-year-old cricketer has faced controversies recently, including political unrest in Bangladesh and a previous two-year ban from the International Cricket Council (ICC) for breaching its anti-corruption code.
Shakib retired from T20 internationals in September and opted not to return for a farewell Test against South Africa in October. Despite these challenges, he is expected to participate in next year’s Champions Trophy. His future in cricket now hinges on successfully addressing the concerns regarding his bowling action.