The Bangladesh Cricket Board has confirmed that all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will continue to play for the team despite being named in a First Information Report (FIR). The board said Shakib Al Hasan will continue to be part of the squad for the Test series against Pakistan and the upcoming tour of India.
Shakib was named in an FIR along with 146 others in connection with the alleged murder of a garment worker during the recent civil unrest in Bangladesh earlier this month. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has delayed any decision on his future until the end of the first Test match against Pakistan.
A Supreme Court lawyer, Advocate Shajib Mahmood Alam, has sent a legal notice to the BCB and demanded the immediate removal of Shakib Al Hasan from the national team. The notice cited ICC regulations and highlighted that Shakib is currently facing a criminal case related to murder.
BCB President Faruque Ahmed says Shakib Al Hasan will continue to play
In a report by Cricbuzz, BCB president Faruque Ahmed claimed that Shakib Al Hasan will continue to play for Bangladesh until his guilt is proven in an alleged murder case. Faruque Ahmed confirmed that they have received a legal notice demanding Shakib’s removal from the team.
“He [Shakib] He will continue to play. We received a legal notice to bring him back and we responded to them saying this [that he will continue to play]” BCB President Faruque Ahmed was quoted in leading Bengali daily Prothom Alo on Tuesday.
The BCB president said Shakib would be part of the squad for the upcoming tour of India after the Pakistan series. Ahmed said the BCB would provide legal assistance to Shakib if required.
“Right now, the FIR is lodged and it is in the initial stage. There are many steps to follow after this and until his guilt is proven, we will force him to play. The Bangladesh team will go to India after the series with Pakistan and we want him in that series as well.”
“He is our contracted player and if necessary we will provide him with legal assistance,” Ahmed added.
Shakib Al Hasan to play county match after Pakistan series
Shakib Al Hasan will not return to Bangladesh after the Test series against Pakistan. Instead, he will travel to England to play a four-day match for Surrey County against Somerset. The BCB has issued him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from September 5 to 14 to play for Surrey.
“He (Shakib) has not played red-ball cricket for a while, and that’s why we have given him a NOC to play for Surrey as it will help him adapt to red-ball cricket more than anything else.” A BCB official told Cricbuzz.
Shakib took three wickets in Pakistan’s second innings during Bangladesh’s 10-wicket win in the first Test in Rawalpindi. The second Test will also be played in Rawalpindi, starting from August 30. Bangladesh’s tour of India 2024 will begin from September 19 to October 12. Bangladesh will play two Tests and three T20s with India.
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