Shakib Al Hasan vows to come back stronger and perform responsibilities with more sincerity

Hours after being suspended, Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan spoke to the media where he shared his thoughts. The cricketer vowed to come back strong and urged for support from the fraternity. Shakib expressed his determination to play the sport at the highest level soon after his ban period ends. After failing the report the approaches by a bookmarker earlier, the ICC imposed a two-year backdated suspension on him.

Shakib Al Hasan asked all the fans, media, the BCB and the government, to continue to support him as they have been doing over the years – both in his good and bad times. With this continued supported, he said he is hopeful to come back to cricket soon. Also, he said that he will be stronger and pledged to perform his responsibilities with more sincerity.

I am hopeful I will come back to cricket soon

“Those who have supported me over the years I hope they, the fans, Bangladesh Cricket Board, the government, the journalists will continue to support me in my bad and good time,” Shakib told reporters in Dhaka as quoted by Scroll. “If you continue your support, I am hopeful I will come back to cricket soon. I will be stronger and will perform my responsibilities with more sincerity,” he said.

Shakib Al Hasan will be free to resume cricket from October 29, 2020 subject to him satisfying the conditions with respect to the suspended part of the sanction. The prestigious T20 World Cup will be played from October 8 to November 15 in Australia next year. This ban effectively means that Shakib will not be able to take part in this tournament. Apart from this, he won’t be in action during the IPL 2020.

The BCB said that they are pleased as Shakib Al Hasan has cooperated fully with the ICC ACU. However, disappointment was expressed about the negligence. It was informed that Shakib pledged his commitment to ACU’s education programme.

“While the BCB is shocked and extremely disappointed that an experienced player like Shakib had failed to report a corrupt approach on three occasions, at the same time we are pleased that he has cooperated fully with the ICC ACU and has pledged his commitment to its education programme,” BCB president Nazmul Hassan said in a statement.