Like Others, I Want Cricket To Be Corruption-Free Sport - Shakib Al Hasan
Updated - 30 Oct 2019, 04:11 PM
It is unfortunate to see a cricketer like Shakib Al Hasan staying away from the sport for 1 year. Especially, with the Indian Premier League and the ICC T20I World Cup in the lineup. However, the rules are there to follow and the ace all-rounder failed to follow them. Thus, ruled out from the sport for the next 365 days.
Shakib, who is the top-ranked ODI all-rounder, has been found guilty of breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code and was charged for not reporting approaches from an alleged Indian bookie, Deepak Aggarwal. In fact, it has happened twice. Once it was during a tri-series among Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in January 2018 and later, during the IPL in April 2018.
I am extremely sad – Shakib Al Hasan
As a result, the ICC handed him a two-year ban (1 of which is suspended) with effect from October 29. With a year of ban to be served, Shakib can return to international cricket only from October 29, 2020.
Responding to the turn of events, Shakib said: “I am obviously extremely sad to have been banned from the game I love, but I completely accept my sanction for not reporting the approaches. The ICC ACU is reliant on players to play a central part in the fight against corruption and I didn’t do my duty in this instance.
“Like the majority of players and fans around the world, I want cricket to be a corruption-free sport and I am looking forward to working with the ICC ACU team to support their education programme and ensure young players don’t make the same mistake I did,” he added.
I hope fans will support me –
The all-rounder said he felt ashamed of the entire event and needs support to put things back in order. He asked the fans, the board and the media to shower support to him in these tough times to make things fall in place again.
“Those who have supported me over the years I hope they, the fans, Bangladesh Cricket Board, the government, the journalists will continue to support me in my bad and good time,” Shakib told reporters in Dhaka hours after the ban was announced.
The ban has effectively ruled out Shakib from next year’s ICC World Twenty20, which will be held from 8 October to 15 November in Australia. Well, he also missed the upcoming tour to India, which also opens their account in the ICC World Test Championship.
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Shakib AL Hasan
