In a shocking turn of events, Bangladesh’s star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been barred from bowling in England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)-organized competitions. The decision follows a negative assessment of his bowling action during a test conducted at Loughborough University.

The controversy stems from a County Championship match played in September, where Shakib represented Surrey against Somerset in Taunton. During the game, he took an impressive nine wickets in what was his first County appearance since the 2010-11 season. However, two on-field umpires, Steve O'Shaughnessy and David Millns, flagged concerns about his bowling action and submitted an official report two months later.

As per protocol, the ECB directed Shakib to undergo a bowling action test. Earlier this month, the veteran cricketer appeared at Loughborough University’s biomechanics lab for the evaluation, which unfortunately deemed his action illegal. This marks the first time in his illustrious 20-year career that Shakib has faced such a setback.

In a statement released on Friday, the ECB announced the sanctions against Shakib, officially ruling him out of bowling in any ECB-run competitions until his action is rectified.

Following his County stint, Shakib returned to international cricket to play two Tests against India. However, he hasn’t been back to Bangladesh since due to ongoing political changes in the country. This period also witnessed significant drama regarding his retirement plans, which created ripples across the cricketing world.

While temporarily away from international cricket, Shakib has continued to feature in franchise tournaments globally. After participating in the Abu Dhabi T10 League, he is now competing in the Lanka T10 League. Despite the setbacks, Shakib remains committed to the game, showcasing his skills in shorter formats worldwide.