'He told the cameraman not to take his picture' - Shafiul Islam describes Shakib Al Hasan's inappropriate 'crotch gesture'

Back in February 2014, Bangladesh star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was handed a three-match ban for making an inappropriate gesture on live TV by pointing his fingers towards his crotch area in the dressing room during the second One Day International against Sri Lanka in Mirpur.

Coming to the incident, commentators covering that game were describing Shakib’s mode of dismissal and the cameraman turned his camera towards Shakib, who was sitting in the dressing room. The all-rounder in frustration, gestured his hands towards his crotch, the same footage was shown on the giant screen. Later, the broadcasters stopped showing the dressing room area for the rest of the game. Shakib managed to score 24 runs in that game and Bangladesh lost the match by 61 runs.

The pictures of the same went viral on social media later and the all-rounder was criticized badly for his poor behavior. Shakib was also fined BDT 300,000 for his inappropriate gesture. Six years after that incident, Bangladesh pacer Shafiul Islam threw light on it, as he was the one who was sitting beside Shakib during that infamous incident in the dressing room. The pacer went live on CricFrenzy Facebook page to talk about the incident.

It happened because of Shakib’s absent-mindedness: Shafiul Islam

Describing the incident, the Bangladesh pacer stated that the all-rounder got out in a very crucial moment of the game and requested the cameraman not to show a camera towards the dressing room. Shakib, after getting out, sat with a towel and unintentionally gestured his hands towards his crotch. Shafiul described that incident happened because of Shakib’s absent-mindedness.

“That was a very close match for us and Shakib Bhai got out in very crucial moments too. He was very excited and he came out with a towel after becoming fresh from the change room. He did not understand what was happening and he told the cameraman not to take his picture and he brought up his finger absent-mindedly,” said Shafiul.

“In the dressing room there was some funny talks going around and I also started laughing and due to that I was also called [in front of the disciplinary panel] and I said Shakib Bhai did not say anything,” he said.

“Probably, he was disappointed after getting out, and afterwards when the camera followed him it was hard for him to take,” he said. “I think it [inappropriate gesture] was not intentional and no one understood that it will become such a big issue,” he concluded.