Bangladesh’s veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has finally cleared his bowling action test after failing two earlier reassessments, one in England and another in India.
The 37-year-old had been suspended after an independent evaluation by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) found his action to be illegal.
Shakib’s troubles began in September 2024 when his bowling action was reported during a county championship match for Surrey against Somerset.
Following his suspension, he sought to rectify his action but struggled to pass the reassessment tests until his latest attempt.
Speaking to a media outlet, Shakib expressed disappointment over the way the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) handled the issue, particularly regarding communication.
“Look, I don’t have any complaints, but if the communication was better in that case, I would have been happier,” Shakib stated.
The all-rounder had requested help from his childhood mentor, Mohammad Salahuddin, before one of his earlier tests, but BCB denied his request.
This, he believes, affected his chances of clearing the test earlier and ultimately cost him a place in the squad for the last champions trophy.
During his suspension, Shakib worked closely with his childhood friend and former Under-19 teammate, Sirajullah Khadem, in England to refine his bowling action.
Khadem believes fatigue may have played a role in his action being reported.
“I believe he was reported because he bowled a lot in that match. When you push yourself too hard, especially when fatigued, minor changes in your action can occur, leading to problems,” Khadem explained.
Despite the challenges, Khadem remained optimistic about Shakib’s future.
“He is looking sharp now and seems to have regained all his tricks,” he added.