Shakib Al Hasan’s flying visit to play for Surrey in a top-of-the-table clash with Somerset has landed the Bangladesh legend in hot water after the umpires reported him for a suspect bowling action.
Chasing a third straight County Championship title, Surrey were missing eight players away on England duty so signed spin-bowling all-rounder Shakib on a one-game deal for their vital meeting with second-placed Somerset, who prepared a turning track to suit their own spinners, Jack Leach and Archie Vaughan. It was Shakib’s first appearance in the County Championship since 2011, when he played for Worcestershire.
Across more than 65 overs in the match, Shakib picked up nine wickets but could not prevent Surrey slipping to a dramatic defeat as Leach and Vaughan shared all 20 wickets in the match. Surrey would go on to have the last laugh, though, as they won the title because Somerset stumbled to defeat in their final two matches.
A report in Bangladesh’s Daily Star revealed that the experienced on-field umpires, David Millns and Steve O’Shaughnessy had reported Shakib’s action. They did not call a no-ball for any specific delivery that he bowled, but suspected that he could have used an illegal action. It is thought to be the first time he has been accused of bowling illegally in a professional career of almost 20 years. He has taken 712 wickets in 447 international matches, including 246 as one of the finest modern left-arm spinners.
While the England and Wales Cricket Board and Surrey declined to comment, it is understood they are currently arranging for Shakib to have his action tested at an approved location. It is expected that this will take place in the next fortnight.
Shakib is not currently banned – indeed he played two Tests in India later in September. However, if he fails the test of his bowling action, he would be suspended from English domestic cricket until he is able to prove the legality of his action at an approved testing location. It is understood that because such a suspension from ECB would be under International Cricket Council regulations, it would be adopted by all International Cricket Council nations, broadening any possible ban.
ICC regulations say that “an illegal bowling action is where a player is throwing rather than bowling the ball. This is defined by the ICC as being where the player’s elbow extends by an amount of more than 15 degrees between their arm reaching the horizontal and the ball being released”.
This continues a tempestuous few months for Shakib, whose international career sits in a curious limbo. He was due to play a farewell Test in Dhaka against South Africa last month, but had to withdraw on security grounds. He had previously been an MP for the Awami League-led government, which was ousted amid student protests in July.
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