Reports: Shakib Al Hasan likely to face 18-month ban for not reporting a corrupt approach to ICC

Bangladesh’s upcoming India tour seems to be in the doldrums. They would’ve hoped to put up a good show against the Men in Blue in the T20I series and gain some confidence with only a year to go for the T20 World Cup next year in Australia. But all is not well in the country’s cricket. After the players’ strike was called off last week, Shakib Al Hasan is likely to be banned for 18 months for not reporting a corrupt approach to the ICC.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief Nazmul Hassan, on Monday, indicated that the all-rounder might miss the India tour but didn’t state the reason. At that point in time, many felt that the reason was his conflict with the BCB and Hassan’s comments also directed towards the same reason. Shakib Al Hasan had also not attended the camp held ahead of the high-profile tour.

But if the report in Bangladesh’s leading Bengali Daily ‘Samakal’ is to be believed, the southpaw has been kept away from practice by the board on ICC’s insistence.

A bookie reportedly approached Shakib Al Hasan two years ago

“It was on the insistence of ICC that Shakib has been kept away from practice by the BCB. That’s the reason he neither featured in the practice games nor did he join the meeting late on Monday evening with the president to discuss pink-ball Test,” the report read. It has also been learnt that Shakib Al Hasan didn’t report a bookie approach before an international match two years ago to the ICC’s anti-corruption unit.

The report also added that the all-rounder confessed about the same to the ICC’s Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) recently. The ICC has refused to comment on the matter but it has been learnt that Shakib is likely to be banned for close to 18 months.

With Shakib not to be part of the touring party, the BCB will once again announce the T20I squad on Tuesday as the team is scheduled to leave for India on Wednesday. Mushfiqur Rahim might lead in Tests while either Mahmudullah or Mosaddek Hossain could be appointed skipper for the three T20Is.

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