Shakib Al Hasan will continue playing for Bangladesh
Shakib Al Hasan was among 146 others named in an FIR during the unrest in Bangladesh earlier this month that led to the collapse of the government. The Bangladesh Cricket Board on Tuesday allowed Shakib Al Hasan to continue playing for Bangladesh until proven guilty as the veteran all-rounder faces a murder case during the unrest in Bangladesh.
The BCB’s decision came after Rafiqul Islam’s lawyers asked the board to immediately remove Shakib from all forms of cricket. Rafiqul Islam is the father of garment factory worker Rubel who was murdered in Dhaka’s Adabor on August 5.
Decision on former captain’s fate
Shakib Al Hasan was among 146 others named in an FIR during the unrest in Bangladesh earlier this month that led to the collapse of the government. Following the allegation, Supreme Court lawyer Shajib Mahmud Alam sent a legal notice to the BCB last week, asking the board to take immediate action against Shakib and ban him from international cricket.
In response, the BCB said they will decide on the former captain’s fate after the end of the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. According to the notice, accessed by Cricbuzz, Shakib, who is accused in a criminal case, should be removed from the national team as per ICC rules. It also said that the 37-year-old Shakib should be brought back to Bangladesh immediately to begin the investigation process.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board on Tuesday (August 27) said that veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will continue to play cricket and represent Bangladesh until proven guilty after he was named in a First Information Report (FIR) in a murder case during the unrest in Bangladesh.
Decision on Shakib’s future participation
BCB officials had earlier said that they will take a decision on Shakib’s future participation after the opening Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. Following the allegation, Supreme Court lawyer Shajib Mahmood Alam on Saturday sent a legal notice to the BCB via email and registered post on behalf of advocate Md Rafinur Rahman, demanding Shakib’s removal from all ‘formats’ of cricket with immediate effect.
The notice, received and seen by Cricbuzz, states that since Shakib has been named in a case, he cannot continue in the national cricket team as per the rules of the International Cricket Council.
Also asked to bring back to Bangladesh
The notice also asks for Shakib to be brought back to Bangladesh soon to help expedite the investigation. It also wants the ICC to be apprised of the developments.
Right now an FIR has been filed and it is in the initial stages and there are many steps to be taken after that and till he is proven guilty, we will let him play. The Bangladesh team will go to India after the Pakistan series and we want him in that series as well.
If needed, we will provide him legal assistance
Meanwhile, Shakib will not return home with the Bangladesh team after the Test series against Pakistan as he has to travel to England to play a four-day match for Surrey. The BCB has given him the necessary No Objection Certificate (NOC) to play for Surrey in a county game against Somerset from September 5 to 14.
He has not played red-ball cricket for a while and that is why we have given him the NOC to play for Surrey as it will help him adjust to red-ball cricket more than anything else, a BCB official told Cricbuzz on Tuesday. The match between Surrey and Somerset is scheduled from September 9 to 12 and after his stint in county cricket, the all-rounder is set to join the national team in India. Bangladesh are scheduled to play two Tests and three T20Is in India starting September 19.
Shakib Al Hasan will not return home after Pakistan series
Shakib will not return to Bangladesh after the Pakistan Test series ends as the all-rounder has to travel to England to play a four-day match for Surrey. The BCB had earlier given him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the match from September 5 to 14. However, he will take the field again for Bangladesh later next month when the team takes on India in a two-Test series followed by three T20Is.
Conclusion
Will continue to play. We received a legal notice about bringing them back and we replied to them saying they will continue to play. BCB president Faruk Ahmed was quoted as saying in a leading Bengali daily Prothom Alo on Tuesday.
Right now the FIR has been filed and it is in the initial stage and there are many steps to be taken after that and till they are proven guilty, we will let them play. The Bangladesh team will travel to India after the Pakistan series and we want them to play in that series as well. They are our contracted players and if needed, we will provide them legal help.
