Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been cleared to resume bowling in the County Championship and The Hundred after successfully passing a bowling assessment test conducted by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The ban, imposed in September 2024, was lifted following a reassessment of his action at Loughborough University on March 9.
Shakib’s Suspension and Road to Clearance
Shakib, a veteran of 20 years in professional cricket, was suspended from bowling in all forms of top-tier domestic and international cricket after the ECB found his action to be illegal during his only County Championship match for Surrey. This was the first time in his career that his bowling action had been reported.
His initial bowling test in December resulted in failure, leading to an automatic suspension under ICC regulations. A second test in Chennai in January also failed, which ruled him out of Bangladesh’s Champions Trophy squad, an event that was expected to be his farewell from international cricket.
Successful Remedial Action
Determined to make a return, Shakib worked on correcting his action and underwent a third assessment at Loughborough University on March 9. This time, all 22 deliveries he bowled were deemed legal, leading to the lifting of his suspension.
A statement from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed that Shakib had “successfully remedied his action”, clearing his path to resume bowling at the highest level.
Return to County Cricket
Following his clearance, Shakib is expected to continue playing for Surrey in the upcoming County Championship season. According to Prothom Alo, he arrived in the UK on February 27 and has been training with the Surrey squad in preparation for his return.
Shakib’s reinstatement will be a huge boost for Surrey and potentially for Bangladesh cricket if he decides to extend his international career beyond the Champions Trophy snub.
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