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Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan reported for suspicious bowling action
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Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan reported for suspicious bowling action

Veteran Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been summoned by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for a review of his bowling action.

The call comes after on-field referees flagged the 37-year-old’s action as suspicious during a recent County Championship match, where he played for Surrey against Somerset.

The incident occurred in September when Shakib took nine wickets during the match, his first in the County Championship since his 2010-11 season with Worcestershire.

Despite their performance, Somerset secured a dramatic 111-point victory, complicating Surrey’s bid for a third consecutive title. Shakib completed more than 63 overs without being directly called for an illegal action, but umpires Steve O’Shaughnessy and David Millns noted irregularities, which required further review.

Arrangements are reportedly being made for Shakib to undergo testing at an ECB-approved facility, which could take place in the coming weeks.

The scrutiny marks an unprecedented moment in Shakib’s 20-year career, which has seen him take 712 wickets in 447 international matches, including 246 in Tests alone. He was never questioned about his bowling technique.

Meanwhile, Shakib’s international commitments have been thrown into doubt following his recent withdrawal from Bangladesh’s Test team for the South African series, citing security concerns – a decision which led to significant backlash in the public and in the media.