Shakib Al Hasan facing investigation for suspect bowling action during Surrey spell

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has requested a formal review of Shakib Al Hasan's bowling action. Umpires Steve O’Shaughnessy and David Millns raised concerns about the legality of his action during a recent match for Surrey in the County Championship. The 37-year-old all-rounder from Bangladesh was reported after bowling over 63 overs in a crucial game against Somerset at Taunton in September. This decision comes after on-field umpires observed potential issues with his bowling technique.

The match marked Shakib’s return to the County Championship for the first time since his tenure with Worcestershire in 2010-11. He signed a short-term contract with Surrey to bolster their efforts for a third consecutive Championship title, stepping in at a crucial time when the team was missing eight players due to national duties with England.

Notably, both of Surrey’s frontline spinners, Will Jacks and Dan Lawrence, were unavailable for the match.

Despite Shakib’s impressive performance, in which he took nine wickets, Somerset mounted a remarkable comeback to secure a 111-run victory, temporarily halting Surrey’s title challenge.

Although Shakib was not penalized with any no-balls for throwing during the match, umpires deemed his bowling action “suspect,” prompting the ECB to initiate a review. Currently, Shakib is not suspended from play, and discussions are in progress to schedule an official analysis at an approved testing facility.

According to ESPNcricinfo, the evaluation of Shakib’s bowling action is expected to occur in the coming weeks. This is the first instance in his extensive career that Shakib’s action has faced scrutiny. Over his two-decade career, he has made a significant impact on the global cricketing stage, taking a total of 712 wickets in 447 international matches, which includes 246 wickets in 71 Test matches.

The scrutiny surrounding Shakib’s bowling action occurs amidst uncertainty in his international career. Last month, he withdrew from Bangladesh’s Test squad for the upcoming match against South Africa in Mirpur, citing security concerns, a decision that incited protests in Bangladesh. This withdrawal followed Shakib’s political involvement with the Awami League-led government, which was recently ousted during a significant student-led protest movement in July.