Shakib Al Hasan, the legendary Bangladesh all-rounder, has been requested by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to undergo an analysis of his bowling action. This request comes after umpires reported him during his solitary appearance for Surrey in the County Championship this season.
Shakib, now 37, made a significant impact in his first County Championship appearance since 2011, claiming nine wickets for Surrey in a thrilling clash with Somerset at Taunton in September. As a left-arm spinner, he had agreed to a short-term deal to bolster Surrey’s resources during their title push, with eight players absent on England duty.
Despite his immediate impact, Shakib was unable to prevent Somerset from securing a remarkable 111-run victory that briefly halted Surrey’s march towards their third consecutive Championship title. He bowled over 63 overs in the fixture, and while he was not no-balled for throwing at any stage, it has now emerged that the on-field umpires, Steve O’Shaughnessy and David Millns, subsequently deemed his bowling action to be suspect.
Shakib is not currently suspended from playing, but negotiations are reportedly underway for him to undergo further tests in an approved location within the next couple of weeks. This is believed to be the first time that Shakib’s bowling action has come under scrutiny in his illustrious career spanning two decades. He has taken a total of 712 wickets across 447 international matches, including 246 in 71 Tests.
Shakib’s international career is currently in limbo following protests that accompanied his withdrawal, on security grounds, from Bangladesh’s Test squad to face South Africa at Mirpur last month. He had previously served as an MP for the longstanding Awami League-led government, which was toppled amid student protests in July.
