Shakib Al Hasan banned by ICC for two years after accepting corruption charges

Shakib Al Hasan

ICC has banned Bangladesh cricketer Shakib Al Hasan for two years, with one year suspended, for failing to report multiple approaches made by a bookie. The all-rounder has accepted the breach on his part and has conceded the punishment. If he manages to satisfy the conditions of the suspended part of the sanction, he will be free to resume international cricket on 29th October 2020.

The charges

ICC found Shakib in breach of their anti-corruption code. Here are the three charges pressed against the Bangla superstar.

Article 2.4.4 – Failure to disclose to the ACU full details of any approaches or invitations he received to engage in Corrupt Conduct – in relation to the Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe Tri-Series in January 2018 and / or the 2018 IPL

Article 2.4.4 – Failure to disclose to the ACU full details of any approaches or invitations he received to engage in Corrupt Conduct – in relation to a second approach in respect of the Tri-Series in January 2018

Article 2.4.4 – Failure to disclose to the ACU full details of any approaches or invitations he received to engage in Corrupt Conduct – in relation to an IPL 2018 match between Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kings XI Punjab on 26 April 2018.

Bangladesh’s highest run-getter in the 2019 World Cup admitted to all these breaches. “I am obviously extremely sad to have been banned from the game I love, but I completely accept my sanction for not reporting the approaches,” Shakib said. “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,” the all-rounder added.

Shakib is currently the number one all-rounder in ODI cricket and a mainstay of Bangladesh cricket. He recently led the players’ movement against the unfair treatment given by the Bangladesh Cricket Board. His absence will blow a major hole into Bangladesh’s challenge on the upcoming tour to India. They will play the first of three T20Is on 3rd November, Sunday.