“A blessing in disguise” Shakib Al Hasan on his ban


“A blessing in disguise” Shakib Al Hasan on his ban
Shakib Al Hasan

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was handed a two-year ban, one-year suspended by ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit on October 29 last year after he accepted charges. The ban was handed to him for not reporting multiple corrupt approaches by an Indian bookmaker.

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The 33 year old is now preparing to return to cricket. He is among the 113 players who will have to undergo a fitness test ahead of the Banglabandhu T20 tournament.

Talking about the past one year, Shakib said, “...it helped me in many ways and mostly in positive ways. Lot of doors opened for me and I can think about life differently, it’s a blessing in disguise. I don’t regret this one year.

He spoke about how this experience has matured him and will serve as a lesson ahead in a video posted on his official YouTube channel. “When a man comes back from this situation he is much more matured. Now I think differently than before and it will surely help me in my life,” he said.

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“They can doubt me or have no trust in me and I don’t disapprove it totally”

Bangladesh team

Now as Shakib is preparing to return to the Bangladesh cricket team, he was asked whether his team mates would doubt him.

It’s a difficult question because I am not sure what is going through anyone’s mind. They can doubt me or have no trust in me and I don’t disapprove it totally. But as I have spoken with almost everyone I did not feel it that way. I think they will believe me like the way they used to do but as you said anyone can have doubt over me at some corner of his mind because it is such a thing,” he said.

After his comeback, Shakib is determined to “reach where I have left“.

I want to repay you back for all the support. The fans were behind me more than my expectations. Whenever I will play, the only thing that will come to my mind is how I can repay them back,” he said.

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Shakib Al Hasan says it was “really challenging” to perform at the World Cup 2019

Shakib Al Hasan

Last year, Shakib had become the first player in the history of World Cup to score 500 runs and pick up 10 wickets in a single edition. However, he said it was “really challenging” to perform at the World Cup.

At the time, he was under ICC’s scanner and was constantly in touch with the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) for the investigation. It made it “an uncomfortable situation“.

Certainly it was not a nice feeling to go to bed with. I was assuming that something might happen and there were times when I felt nothing might happen…,” he recalled.

“(However) that investigation had nothing to do with my performance in the World Cup as the investigation started in November/December so I could have been banned before the World Cup. I had a desire to do well in the World Cup as I could not perform according to my reputation on the world stage,” he said.

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Also Read: Shakib-Al-Hasan to auction his bat, will raise funds for healthcare workers