IT came as a great shock to the nation when the International Cricket Council on Tuesday banned Bangladesh captain Shakib al Hasan from all cricket for two years, with one year of that suspended, after he accepted three charges of breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code. The charges are: Failure to disclose to the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit full details of any approaches or invitations he received to engage in any corrupt conduct – in relation to the Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe Tri-Series in January 2018 and the 2018 Indian Premier League. The Tri-Series (Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe) was held in January 2018 and IPL-2018 match that was held between Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kings XI Punjab on 26 April 2018. Shakib admitted the charges and agreed the sanction of the ICC in line with the Anti-Corruption Tribunal hearing. He can return to International Cricket on 29 October 2020.
Shakib is not merely a cricketer; he is world’s number-1 all rounder. One thing we couldn’t understand why he had made the mistake? It’s not a simple mistake; it’s a blunder. Such carelessness is unexpected from a player like Shakib, who is a highly experienced international cricketer, and also captain of the national team. He had attended many workshops and seminars and knew his obligations under the ICC laws. It was his moral duty to report each of these approaches. He became too sure of his position. Though Shakib said he was extremely sad to have been banned from the game he loves, it was a heavy blow to his millions of fans and admirers across the globe. However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board will stand by him.
We hope in appeal there is scope for revising by ICC higher authority the punishment announced. But that will certainly depend on making them believe that omission was not intentional and no dishonesty was to be inferred. It is also a matter of serious consideration that the cricket lovers will be deprived of enjoying the play of such a popular international cricketer. May be some other way can be found to punish him without depriving the cricket fans worldwide.
