Shakib gets two-year ban for breach of ICC code
Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has been banned from cricket for two years, with one year suspended, yesterday for breaching the anti-corruption code.
The International Cricket Council said Shakib admitted to three charges of failing to disclose full details of approaches or invitations he received to engage in corrupt conduct in January 2018 during the tri-series between Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, and during the 2018 Indian Premier League.
Shakib, the Test and Twenty20 captain, also agreed to the sanction in lieu of a hearing. The ICC said Shakib could avoid another year of suspension if he does not commit any further offence before he is free to resume international cricket from October 29, 2020.
That date rules him out of the T20 World Cup, which starts on October 18 in Australia. “I am extremely sad to have been banned from the game I love, but I completely accept my sanction for not reporting the approaches,” Shakib said in an ICC media release.
“The ICC ACU is reliant on players to play a central part in the fight against corruption and I didn’t do my duty in this instance.”
Alex Marshall, the ICC general manager (integrity), said Shakib had attended many education sessions and knew his obligations.
“Shakib has accepted his errors and co-operated fully with the investigation,” Marshall said. “He has offered to assist the integrity unit in future education, to help younger players to learn from his mistakes. I am happy to accept this offer.”
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina backed the all-rounder, saying the cricket board “will always be with Shakib and will help him in every way”.
“Shakib’s mistake is that when he was contacted he didn’t give it too much importance,” she said.
It has been a tumultuous few days for Shakib. Last week, he had led a player strike demanding better pay and benefits.
While the issue was resolved with salaries of domestic players almost doubled, Shakib drew the ire of his board for agreeing to sign an endorsement deal with a telecom company despite being directed not to.