Shakib al Hasan Cuts Sponsorship Ties With Betting Company, Available For Asia Cup Selection

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib al Hasan has relayed to the board that he has negated the sponsorship contract he signed with a betting company, Betwinner News. On the back of the news, he is now available to be selected for the Asia Cup 2022.

Shakib entered into a contract with the company but BCB raised concerns over the company’s legality. BCB President Nazmul Hassan clearly stated that such companies are prohibited and Shakib had to choose between playing for the country and maintaining sponsorship ties.

“Shakib has informed us shortly before [now] that he has terminated the contract with the company. He said that all social media posts pertaining to that sponsorship will be deleted,” BCB’s cricket operations chairman Jalal Yunus said.

“Shakib al Hasan has to decide if he wants to play for Bangladesh, or stay with betting” – Nazmul Hassan

The laws in the country prohibit people from promoting companies that facilitate gambling. Shakib’s deal was therefore a violation of the law and he didn’t have a choice but to end the relationship even before it took off.

“The law is clear-cut about what companies are prohibited (by the BCB), and this company is related to betting,” Hassan had said. “You can call Betwinner News as a news (company), but it is branded as a betting company. It is a part (of the betting company). We have said that it cannot be related (to a betting company).”

“He (Shakib) has to decide if he wants to play for Bangladesh, or stay with betting. There’s no scope of keeping that association. He has to come out of it completely. Let alone the captaincy, he won’t be in the team.”

“There’s no discussion. We have taken a very clear decision. Anyone who has any affiliation with a betting company can’t have a connection with the Bangladesh Cricket Board. We will not take him in the team unless we get a satisfactory answer from him,” he added.

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