Shakib Al Hasan In Trouble After BCB Gets Legal Notice Demanding Removal Of All-Rounder From Cricket

New Delhi: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has received a legal notice asking for the removal of star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan from all forms of cricket. The notice comes in after Shakib was found as one of the 146 named in an FIR lodged in an alleged murder during the nationwide protests earlier this month that led former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resign and flee the country.

The FIR was lodged on Thursday by Rafiqul Islam in connection with the death of his son, Mohammed Rubel, who used to work in a garment factory. The lawyers of Rafiqul had served the legal notice to the BCB via email and a registered post. According to Cricbuzz, the notice cited ICC rules which state a player cannot participate for the national team while being named in a criminal case.

The notice also requested the BCB to bring Shakib back to the country in order to help in the case investigation and inform the ICC. The all-rounder is currently playing in the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. New BCB president Faruque Ahmed stated that they are yet to receive the notice and a decision on Shakib can only be taken after the first Test ends on Sunday.

“Let me say about Shakib. A case has been lodged. We are yet to get any legal notice. FIR (first information letter) was given in the case and later there will be an investigation and following that, the case will move in one direction or the other,” Faruque told reporters.

“Look, now we are playing a Test match and it is very good news that we have played well on the fourth day. Tomorrow is the fifth day, the deciding day of the Test and I think at this point, we haven’t thought about taking a stance. After tomorrow, once the game is over, we will sit and take a decision,” he said.

Faruque stated that although Shakib has been named in the FIR, no charge was filed against the cricketer as yet. “The relationship between BCB and Shakib Al Hasan is like a player and an employer according to the contract. After tomorrow, we can think exactly after getting the legal notice and based on that. I cannot withdraw him from the middle of the Test match,” he said. The second Test between Bangladesh and Pakistan begins on August 30.