The Bangladesh Cricket Board has refused to remove all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan from the team despite a murder case against him. The BCB said that he would continue to play for the country until proven guilty.
The officials want the star player to play in the two-match Test series against India in September.
The former Bangladesh skipper is among 147 people who have been charged with the murder of a person during the political unrest in Bangladesh. One of the lawyers of the Supreme Court had sent a legal notice to BCB, urging them to remove Shakib from the national team.
A report in Cricbuzz quoted BCB president Faruque Ahmed as telling a Bengali Daily Prothom Alo that Shakib will not be dropped until he is proven guilty.
“Shakib will continue to play for Bangladesh. We received a notice regarding him, and we replied to them saying that the all-rounder would not be removed. The FIT has been filed, and the case is in the initial stage. We will make him play until he is proven guilty,” Ahmed said.
“Bangladesh will also play in India, and we want Shakib in that series,” he added.
The board is ready to provide him with legal support if needed.
Shakib is to play in County Cricket after the Pakistan series
There is no chance of Shakib Al Hasan getting arrested as he will not return to Bangladesh after the Pakistan series. The legendary player will travel to England to compete in the County Championship, and there is no chance of him coming back to Bangladesh in the near future.
Shakib will turn up for Surrey against Somerset in a four-day match.
Shakib is playing in the two-match Test series against Pakistan. The BCB has granted the 37-year-old the NOC.
“Shakib has been given the NOC to play for Surrey, and it will help him prepare for future matches,” a BCB official was quoted as telling Cricbuzz.
He took four wickets in the first Test against Pakistan, with the visitors registering a 10-wicket triumph.
The second match will start on August 30 in Rawalpindi.