Shakib Al Hasan’s participation in the upcoming Champions Trophy is now uncertain after he did not pass the reassessment test for his bowling action. The all-rounder had been flagged for an illegal bowling action during a county match in England, which led to a suspension that also affects his international play according to ICC rules.
Shakib recently underwent a bowling assessment at Loughborough University, but the results were not in his favor. Following this, he took another test in Chennai, as the Bangladesh cricket board awaited the outcomes with anticipation. Unfortunately, the second test also returned negative results. In a statement issued by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on January 11, they confirmed that Shakib’s bowling suspension would remain in effect. However, they noted that he can still participate in matches as a batsman.
The BCB clarified, “The player’s current suspension from bowling in international cricket still stands after the initial assessment in the UK. To lift this suspension, he must successfully reassess his bowling action. While he can’t bowl at this time, he is eligible to play as a batsman in all formats of domestic and international cricket.”
This news is a significant setback for Shakib, who had hoped to be part of the Bangladesh squad for the Champions Trophy. Bangladesh’s captain Najimul Shanto and BCB chief Faruque Ahmed had both expressed a willingness to include Shakib in the team, contingent on him passing the reassessment test.
Since the Test series loss to India, where Bangladesh suffered a 0-2 defeat, Shakib has been absent from international matches. He also missed his anticipated farewell Test against South Africa at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. His last competitive game was in November, where he played for the Bangla Tigers in the T10 League, and he isn’t participating in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League either.
