Star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan pledged Sunday to “behave in a more mature way” in future as he begged Bangladesh cricket authorities to review a six-month ban for bad behaviour.
Shakib, the country’s most popular sportsman, made a passionate public plea to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) which imposed the ban this month because of his “severe attitude problem”.
“Nothing can be more painful than staying away from cricket,” Shakib, the world’s leading all-rounder, said in his first comments since the ban.
“I sincerely apologise to the BCB and the Bangladesh cricket team if they are embarrassed at my behaviour,” the 27-year-old said.
Reading out a statement after filing for a review of his suspension at BCB headquarters, Shakib said he accepted that he had not acted “properly on many occasions”.
He apologised to the fans “who were always supportive of the Bangladesh cricket team”.
“I am determined to behave in a more mature way in the future,” he said outside the headquarters in Dhaka.
Shakib, the best cricketer Bangladesh has ever produced, was banned from all forms of competitive cricket for six months, ruling him out of Bangladesh’s tour of the West Indies in August.
Shakib, who has a history of discipline problems, was also barred from playing in any cricket leagues abroad until December next year — even after his ban on international cricket expires.
The suspension came after he reportedly threatened to quit international cricket when he was called back to Dhaka before his planned appearance in the Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 tournament.
BCB president Nazmul Hassan said Shakib was travelling to the Caribbean without any clearance from the BCB.
He had also “misbehaved” with the new national coach Chandika Hathurusinghe, Hassan said without giving any details.
Last month Shakib beat up a spectator who reportedly used abusive language against the player’s wife during an Bangladesh-India match.
The left-hander has played 34 Tests, scoring 2,278 runs with a batting average of 37.96 and taken 122 wickets, the country’s highest.
He has played 134 one-day internationals scoring 3,835 runs and taking 171 wickets.
JJJ
Guest
The BCB will have their cut... I suspect that's what this is about rather than any "embarrassment" his behaviour has caused.
Stan McCan
Guest
Stay tough BCB
Sideline Comm.
Guest
It's a tough situation. The BCB can't be seen to be weak or preferential just be cause he is a star player. Or the star player as it might be. By the same token though, he is crucial to the game in Bangladesh, and banning him is definitely not in their best interest, either in terms of wins or in terms of popularity. The board should respond to his plea to play with the offer of a strict probation period, but retaining the ban on league cricket for at least 6 months.
Riccardo
Guest
Seriously? Just reinstate him. This guy has almost single-handedly put Bangladesh on the cricket map. Wisden cricketer of the year 2009. The only all rounder to be ranked in the top 3 of ICC Player Rankings across every format of international cricket He can be a bit of a hot-head and has been in trouble with the administrationm in the past but is an outstanding cricketer who has served his country well and deserves the oportunity to make a few bucks.