The Bangladesh Cricket Board on Tuesday announced to lift the ban of all-rounder Sakib al Hasan from next month, making him available for domestic and international cricket from September 15. The BCB president Nazmul Hasan announced the decision at a crowed press conference in Dhaka after a board meeting reviewed his appeal against the ban imposed on July 7.
‘We have seen some positive changes in him since the ban was imposed,’ said Nazmul.
‘We are also satisfied with the letter he [Sakib] submitted to us. And we believe that he has realised that he made some mistakes.
‘So, we have decided to lift his ban from September 15. He will now be available for selection for the Asian Games, Zimbabwe series (in October) and the domestic league,’ he said.
Sakib was banned from all forms of competitive cricket up to January because of what the BCB said of his ‘severe attitude problem’.
The suspension came after he had 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 said, Sakib was travelling to the Caribbean without any clearance and he also ‘misbehaved’ with the new national coach Chandika Hathurusinghe.
Sakib, arguably the best cricketer Bangladesh has ever produced, subsequently pledged to ‘behave in a more mature way’ in future as he made a passionate public plea to the BCB to review the ban.
Sakib was also barred from playing in any cricket leagues abroad until December next year.
Nazmul said the BCB will keep the player under observation and will decide it later if he can be allowed to play in the foreign leagues.
The suspension ruled him out of the ongoing tour of West Indies, where Bangladesh have already lost all of the three matches of the one-day international series.
BCB’s decision of not lifting his ban immediately means, he cannot be selected for the Test series against the West Indies, which will begin on September 5.
Nazmul said they had to give a long thought before making the decision.
‘You all know that he was also suspended earlier. That was a crucial period as we had the Asia Cup going on. There were many requests to lift his ban before the Afghanistan match. But we were firm in our decision.’
Sakib who has a history of discipline problems, was banned for three matches in February for an indecent gesture to local fans, a suspension that kept him out of the key Asia Cup matches against India and Afghanistan.
Sakib may now return to competitive cricket with the Asian Games, which will be held in Incheon, South Korea of from September 19 to October 4.
Bangladesh already have announced a 15-man squad for the Games, though there is a chance that they may seek a replacement of all-rounder Sohag Gazi, who has been reported for an illegal bowling action.
Nazmul, however, said the decision will rest on selectors.
‘We cannot put him straight into the national team because this is the job of the selectors,’ he said.
-With New Age input
