Bangladesh’s cricket captain, Shakib Al Hasan, has once again stirred debate over the spirit of cricket, this time by playing a role in the historic “timed out” dismissal of Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews during a fiery World Cup match.
It marked the first occurrence of such a dismissal in international cricket’s 146-year history, with Mathews failing to take strike within the stipulated two-minute limit when coming out to bat in New Delhi.
Shakib made the appeal that led to Mathews being declared out, a decision Mathews strongly criticized, labeling Shakib as “disgraceful.” This article delves into three previous controversies involving Shakib:
Crotch of the Matter (2014): In an ODI against Sri Lanka, Shakib gestured towards his crotch in frustration after his dismissal, which was televised and displayed on the big screen at the stadium. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) imposed a three-match ban and a $3,800 fine for what they deemed an “inappropriate gesture.”
‘I Quit’ Text (2014): Shakib’s troubles continued when he decided to quit international cricket via a text message to coach Chandika Hathurusingha after skipping a training camp. The BCB banned him for six months for “serious misbehavior,” later reducing the suspension to three-and-a-half months.
Anti-Corruption Ban (2019): In 2019, Shakib faced a two-year ban from the International Cricket Council (ICC) for failing to report corrupt approaches, including ones related to the Indian Premier League. The ban was backdated, and Shakib returned to the team in October 2020 after accepting three charges of breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.
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