ICC banning the poster boy of Bangladesh cricket one of the greatest all-rounder cricketers has ever witnessed at a very critical time must have come as a bolt from the blue. ICC has issued a two years ban on him for not letting Anti Corruption Unit (ACU) of ICC informed of the three different approaches of bookies to him for match fixing.

Shakib Al Hassan reportedly denied to accept those proposals but at the same time also did not inform ACU which is considered as a gross violation. Shakib accepted his lapses and has been banned for all type of competitive cricket. He will serve his term for a year during which ICC would observe his conducts and behavior. Subject to him meeting the set bench marks he will be absolved of the second years bank. Such an unfortunate development at a time when Bangladesh cricket has a topsy turvy state from players and establishment dispute in the wake of a very important away series in India rocked the very base of Bangladesh cricket. The star all rounder, T20 and test captain is an indispensable one man unit of Bangladesh cricket. He is a one in three player and at this moment it is not possible for someone to step into his shoes. The possibility for Bangladesh setting up a contest with very strong team India in their own backyard in any format of the game now looks triple challenging.While Shakib logically refused to accept the bait of the bookies, he has definitely made a gross mistake in not letting ICC know about those approaches by the dirty person. As per ICC guidelines it is a major offence. Players appearing in international cricket are pledge bound for ensuring fairness in cricket staying above match fixing. Being a top international cricketer, member of MCC, UNICEF ambassador and on the top of all these captain of Bangladesh it was all known to him. His acceptance of mistakes has let him get away with relatively softer punishment. However this has created a huge impact on Bangladesh cricket. He will not only miss the ensuing India tour, but also he won’t be available for the all important T20 world cup. He will miss BPL, IPL and all type of competitive cricket in between for a year. During his rehabilitation process he has to undergo few programs of ICC as his conducts will be under scanner. We can not even fathom the depth and diversity of impacts this development would cause to Bangladesh cricket. Bangladesh cricket is still suffering from the loss of another super star Mohammad Ashraful for another match fixing episode taking him away from all crickets for 5 long years. He still remains out of international cricket. Shakib is still young and we are sure he will over come and return in his usual form.

Meantime BCB has announced little bird Mominul Haq as the test captain and Mahmudullah Riad as T20 captain for the India tour. Left arm spinner Taijul Islam would replace Shakib as a bowler. But Bangladesh needs at least two more persons for filling the void in batting and fielding. The team would also suffer from absence of star opener Tamim Iqbal opting to skip the series in India for personal reasons.

Bangladeshis of all segments of national life have been shocked and awed from the ICC imposed ban on Shakib. But there is nothing any one can do other than sympathizing with him. All including cricket loving Prime Minister of Bangladesh have vowed to stay beside him. Talkative BCB President sounded eloquent when he said “You can not replace two persons Captain Mashrafe and player Shakib.”

We have no option but to accept the reality. Life must go on. Hope Shakib’s forced absence would be taken up as a strong challenge. Rest of the players must take fresh resolve and inject an extra ounce of energy to share additional responsibility. We hope all including Shakib would take a lesson from the episode.

It is true that none remains indispensable for anything for ever. But some are essential Ingredients; some are backbone of something for sometime till ideal replacement emerges. Shakib is one such in Bangladesh and world cricket. Hid absence would be keenly felt.

BDST: 1138 HRS, OCT 30, 2019
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