DHAKA: Former Bangladesh captain and all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has revealed that he deliberately bowled with an illegal action.
His bowling action was declared illegal in 2024 while playing for Surrey in the English County Championship, leading to his suspension.
In an interview, Shakib admitted, “I think I intentionally bowled with a slightly illegal action.”
He explained that he bowled more than 70 overs in Surrey’s match against Somerset, something he had never done in a Test match throughout his career.
Shakib said he was extremely exhausted after long spells of bowling, especially following back-to-back Test matches against Pakistan.
After winning the Test series against Pakistan, he transitioned to four-day county cricket, which added to his workload.
The all-rounder further stated that he expected umpires to warn him, but they followed the rules and reported him instead.
He did not complain when his action was reported. Shakib failed the initial bowling-action test but later passed a second test and was cleared.
In that match, he bowled a total of 63.2 overs. Earlier this year, he was officially cleared to bowl again following the third Test.
Shakib Al Hasan, one of Bangladesh’s greatest all-rounders, made his Test debut in May 2007 against India.
Since then, he has established himself as a core player for Bangladesh with outstanding contributions in both batting and bowling.
Known for his consistency, control, and match-winning ability, Shakib remains one of the few all-rounders in the world to achieve major milestones across formats.
Across his Test career, Shakib has played over 70 Test matches, scoring more than 4,500 runs at an average above 39.
His batting record includes 5 Test centuries and one double-century, making him a dependable middle-order batsman for Bangladesh.
As a bowler, Shakib has taken over 240 Test wickets, including 19 five-wicket hauls, proving his strength as a world-class left-arm spinner.
