Veteran Bangladeshi pacer Shakib Al Hasan has been suspended from bowling in all competitions organized by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for exceeding the maximum allowable elbow extension of 15 degrees.
The 37-year-old’s actions were scrutinized by on-field umpires in his one-off appearance for Surrey in September – his first County Championship appearance since the 2010-11 season.
After the judges’ doubts, he was asked to audition.
“Shakib completed an independent assessment at Loughborough University earlier this month, which found that elbow extension in bowling exceeded the 15 degree threshold as set out in the regulations,” the ECB said in a statement.
“This suspension comes into effect as of receipt of the independent assessment on 10 December, and follows the process set out in the ECB Regulations for the review of flagged bowlers of suspected illegal bowling.”
Shakib, considered the greatest cricketer Bangladesh has produced, could not immediately be reached for comment.
To have the ban overturned, the left-armer would need to undergo a re-evaluation showing a narrower elbow extension.
Shakib, who has been surrounded in controversy recently due to political unrest in Bangladesh, retired from Twenty20 Internationals in September and decided not to return home for the farewell Test against South Africa in Mirpur in October.
But the former captain is likely to participate in the Champions Cup next year.
Shakib was a member of parliament for the Awami League party led by Sheikh Hasina, whose 15-year rule as prime minister ended last August when she fled to India after bloody protests.
In 2019, he was banned from playing for two years after the International Cricket Council (ICC) found he had breached its anti-corruption code.