Bangladesh’s historic 10-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first Test of the two-match series in Rawalpindi marked a significant milestone for the team. This triumph was Bangladesh’s first-ever Test win against Pakistan, a testament to their growing prowess in the international cricket arena.
Amidst the series, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) faced a legal challenge regarding star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. Shakib was accused of involvement in a murder case, prompting a legal notice demanding his recall and ban from the team.
The BCB initially stated that a decision on Shakib’s status would be made after the first Test. However, recent reports from Cricbuzz indicate that the BCB has allowed Shakib to continue playing in the series.
“He [Shakib] will continue playing. We received a legal notice regarding bringing him back and we replied them saying this [that he will continue to play],” BCB president Faruque Ahmed told Prothom Alo, a leading Bengali daily.
Ahmed emphasized that Shakib’s guilt has not been established and that he will continue to play until proven otherwise. The BCB also expressed its intention to provide Shakib with legal assistance if necessary.
Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, Shakib will not return home after the Pakistan series. He is scheduled to travel to England to participate in a four-day match for Surrey. The BCB has granted him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for this purpose.
“He [Shakib] has not played red-ball cricket for a while and that is why we have given him an NOC to play for Surrey as it will help him to adjust with red-ball cricket more than anything else,” a BCB official confirmed to Cricbuzz.
Following his stint with Surrey, Shakib will join the Bangladesh team for the two-match Test series against India, commencing on September 19.
