Shakib Al Hasan, who is currently in Pakistan playing in a Test series for Bangladesh, has been making headlines not only for his performance but also due to a legal issue that has cast a shadow over his cricketing career.
On August 5th, a murder case was filed against Shakib in connection with the killing of Md. Rubel, a worker at a garment factory. This led to concerns about his future in cricket. In response, Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Sajib Mahmud Alam sent a legal notice to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on August 24th, urging them to bring Shakib back to the country. However, the BCB has stated that they will support Shakib in continuing his cricketing activities.
Despite the legal notice, Shakib will not be returning to Bangladesh at this time. After completing the ongoing series against Pakistan, he is set to travel to England, where he will play a few matches in county cricket.
Following his stint in England, Shakib will head directly to India to join the team for the upcoming series. This information was confirmed by BCB President Faruk Ahmed during a press conference held after a board meeting on Thursday, August 29th.
When asked about Shakib’s continued participation in the game, Faruk stated, “He has been given an NOC (No Objection Certificate) to play in the county. He will play the India series from abroad, and further decisions will be made after the series ends.”
Earlier, regarding the possibility of recalling Shakib, the BCB President had mentioned, “The FIR has been filed against Shakib. We have responded to the legal notice from the board, as he is a contracted player. We will support him from the board, and there is no issue with him playing during this time.”
The second and final Test of the series against Pakistan is set to begin tomorrow. Following this match, Shakib will fly to England, where he is scheduled to play a four-day match for Surrey County against Somerset.