Shakib Al Hasan to continue playing for Bangladesh despite being named in FIR in an alleged murder case

The Bangladesh Cricket Board confirmed that all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will continue to play for the team despite being named in a First Information Report (FIR). The board said that Shakib Al Hasan will remain part of the team for the Test series against Pakistan and the upcoming tour of India.

Shakib was named in an FIR alongside 146 others in connection with the alleged murder of a garment worker during the recent civil unrest in Bangladesh earlier this month. The Bangladesh Cricket Board delayed any decision regarding his future until the end of the first Test against Pakistan.

A Supreme Court lawyer, Barrister Shajib Mahmood Alam, sent a legal notice to the BCB and demanded the immediate removal of Shakib Al Hasan from the national team. The notice cited ICC regulations and highlighted that Shakib is currently facing a criminal case related to a murder.

Shakib Al Hasan Will Continue Playing—BCB president Faruque Ahmed

In a report by Cricbuzz, BCB president Faruque Ahmed stated that Shakib Al Hasan will continue to play for Bangladesh until proven guilty in an alleged murder case. Faruque Ahmed confirmed that they received a legal notice demanding Shakib's removal from the team.

"He [Shakib] will continue playing. We received a legal notice regarding bringing him back and we replied them saying this [that he will continue to play]," BCB president Faruque Ahmed was quoted in a leading Bengali Daily Prothom Alo on Tuesday.

The BCB President said that Shakib would be part of the squad for the upcoming tour of India after the Pakistan series. Ahmed stated that the BCB would provide legal assistance to Shakib if needed.

"Right now the FIR is filed and it is in the initial stage and there are lot of steps after this and until he is proven guilty, we will make him play. The Bangladesh team will go to India after the Pakistan series and we want him in that series as well."

"He is our contracted player and if necessary, we will give him legal assistance," Ahmed added.

Shakib Al Hasan To Play County Match After Pakistan Series

Shakib Al Hasan will not return to Bangladesh after the Test series against Pakistan. Instead, he will travel to England to play a four-day County match for Surrey against Somerset. The BCB has issued him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from September 5 to 14 for playing for Surrey.

"He (Shakib) has not played red-ball cricket for a while, and that is why we have given him an NOC to play for Surrey, as it will help him to adjust with red-ball cricket more than anything else," a BCB official was quoted as telling Cricbuzz.

Shakib took three wickets in Pakistan's second innings during Bangladesh's 10-wicket win in the first Test in Rawalpindi. The second Test will also be played in Rawalpindi, starting on August 30. Bangladesh tour of India 2024 will be starting from September 19th to October 12th. Bangladesh will be playing two tests and three t20s with India.

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