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Bangladesh National Cricket Team fast bowler Shoriful Islam is unlikely to play county cricket for Kent after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) decided against issuing him the No-Objection Certificate.
Shoriful had received an offer from Kent earlier this month after fellow Bangladesh fast bowler Hasan Mahmud joined the county side. Kent had planned to play Shoriful in the four County Championship matches.
This could have brought Hasan and Shoriful together in the same team. Earlier, Shoriful Islam creates history as first No. 11 batter to top-score against Australia in Test Cricket.
Shoriful Islam set to miss county cricket as BCB refuses Kent NOC
However, Shoriful Islam has been asked to stay away from county games for now after the recent tours of Australia and Zimbabwe. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has reportedly refused to give Islam the No-Objection Certificate (NOC) to play in the County Championship.
The main reason behind this decision is workload management. BCB wants Shoriful to remain fresh for Bangladesh’s upcoming Test assignments as they aim to make a big impact in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle.
With Shoriful unavailable, Kent is expected to sign another Bangladeshi pacer, Khaled Ahmed, as his replacement for those County Championship matches. So, Khaled is now in line to become the latest Bangladesh fast bowler to play County cricket in England.
Historic seven-wicket haul for Shoriful Islam
Earlier, Shoriful Islam delivered a historic performance against Australia in the second and final Test. The Bangladesh fast bowler became the first left-arm fast bowler in 140 years to take seven wickets in a Test innings against the Australia cricket team.
The 25-year-old pacer destroyed Australia’s batting attack in the second Test at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay. He finished with outstanding figures of 7/48 from 15 overs as Australia were bowled out for 210 in their first innings.
Shoriful was also the top scorer for Bangladesh in their first innings with 14 runs. However, he could not save Bangladesh from a heavy defeat, as the Test ended within just two days with Australia levelling the two-match Test series 1-1. This series was part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC). Amid this, Stuart Broad raises questions over Mackay pitch after Australia's win vs Bangladesh.
Shoriful Islam joins rare club of left-arm pacers
Islam’s seven-wicket haul placed him on a very special list. The previous left-arm fast bowler to take seven wickets in a Test innings against Australia was England’s Dick Barlow, who claimed 7/44 in the second innings of the Manchester Test in July 1886.
Barlow had also taken seven wickets against Australia in Sydney in January 1883. England’s Tom Emmett was the first left-arm fast bowler to achieve the feat, taking 7/68 from 59 overs against Australia in Melbourne in January 1879.
Shoriful is now only the fourth left-arm fast bowler to take seven wickets in a Test innings against Australia. However, the best figures by any left-arm bowler against Australia belong to England spinner Hedley Verity, who took 8/43 at Lord’s in 1934.
The overall record still belongs to England legend Jim Laker, who produced the famous 10/53 against Australia in Manchester in 1956, taking all 10 wickets in the second innings.
