Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is breathing a sigh of relief after passing his third bowling action reassessment in England. It’s been a tough six months for the veteran, both on and off the field. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had previously left him out of the Champions Trophy, not wanting to select him solely as a batter. The 37-year-old felt the whole situation could have been managed better by the BCB.
“I don’t have any complaints, but I would have been happier if the communication was better in this case,” Shakib told Cricbuzz.
It’s understood that Shakib had wanted to spend a week training with his childhood mentor, Mohammad Salahuddin, before undergoing his initial failed bowling test. This delay meant he wasn’t cleared in time for the Champions Trophy, and with his recent batting struggles, the selectors didn’t want to pick him just as a specialist batter.
Shakib was suspended from bowling after being reported for a suspect action during a County Championship match for Surrey against Somerset in September 2024. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) later confirmed his action was illegal after an independent review. Shakib went through two reassessments, one in England and another in India, but failed both, leading to his suspension.
The all-rounder had asked the BCB to include him in the Champions Trophy squad, believing it would give him the opportunity to work with Salahuddin before retaking the bowling test. However, his requests were ignored, and many in the Bangladesh cricket community believe this decision prevented Shakib from potentially ending his ODI career after the tournament, as he had planned.
In hindsight, the BCB may regret their handling of the situation, especially after Shakib passed the bowling test following two weeks of extensive work with Surrey’s head coach Gareth Batty.
Shakib’s childhood friend, Sirajullah Khadem (Nipu), who worked closely with him during this challenging period in England, revealed that Shakib was well-prepared for his third test.
Shakib Al Hasan passes bowling action reassessment test
“The journey wasn’t too tough, and he wasn’t under much stress. He knew exactly what he needed to do,” Nipu told Cricbuzz. “In the first two attempts, he was rushing. But this time, he had perfect preparation, which is why he succeeded.”
Nipu, who played alongside Shakib in the 2006 U-19 World Cup, explained that Shakib’s initial suspension stemmed from fatigue after bowling a lot during the county game.
“He was reported because he overexerted himself in that match. When you’re tired, small changes can occur in your action, which leads to issues,” Nipu said. “But now, he looks sharp and has regained his full range of skills.”
Shakib, who had never previously been reported for an illegal action, underwent his third assessment at Loughborough University on March 9.
It remains to be seen whether the BCB will now consider him for selection, especially after leaving him out of the central contracts recently.
