 "There's a real chance of Shakib Al Hasan missing the Champions Trophy 2025 squad. Image: Reuters")
Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan for now it seems will not be bowling in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 as the 37-year-old failed an independent reassessment test which was conducted in Chennai last month. Shakib was banned from bowling after being found to have an illegal bowling action during a county match in England. The ban automatically extends to international cricket.
He first underwent a test at Loughborough University which he could not pass and as a result reassessed his bowling at the the Sri Ramachandra Centre for Sports Science in Chennai on 21 December. The veteran, who has 712 international wickets from 44 matches, failed the test once again, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has announced.
“Consequently, the player’s existing suspension from bowling in international cricket following the initial independent assessment at the testing centre of Loughborough University in the UK, also remains in place,” BCB said in a statement. “A successful reassessment is required for the bowling suspension to be lifted. While Shakib is currently unable to bowl, he is eligible to continue playing as a batsman in all forms of domestic and international cricket.”
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As a result of him now being rendered just a batter, his chances of making Bangladesh’s squad for the Champions Trophy 2025 are very slim, this was informed by a selector to Cricbuzz.
“Tamim is sorted (having announced retirement), and Shakib needs to come after giving his third (bowling reassessment) test and I am in doubt regarding his chances in the tournament,” the selector said on the condition of anonymity. “So you can say that we are preparing the squad without them (Tamim and Shakib) as we will not be thinking of Shakib if he is not bowling. If BCB feels that he can come after the test, we can go for replacement as we have time,” he said.
Shakib Al Hasan has not played international cricket since Bangladesh lost a Test series 0-2 in India. The last he played a competitive match was in November when he played for the Bangla Tigers in the Lanka T10 League.