In recent weeks, speculation surrounding the bowling action of Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan gained attention following concerns raised during his stint in the English County Championship. However, the veteran cricketer has now been cleared of any irregularities after voluntarily undergoing a thorough assessment at Loughborough University in England.

Earlier this month, Shakib personally arranged for a review of his bowling action at the medical department of Loughborough University, Birmingham. Under the supervision of experts, the left-arm spinner bowled four overs in the examination, comprising 24 deliveries. The analysis confirmed there were no irregularities in his bowling action, effectively silencing doubts raised by certain quarters during his County appearances.

The scrutiny arose after Shakib represented Surrey in the County Championship. During a match against Somerset, match officials reportedly flagged concerns about his bowling action, prompting an informal objection by County authorities. Taking no chances, Shakib proactively opted for the testing to maintain his impeccable reputation.

Shakib’s most recent international outings were during Bangladesh’s tour of India. Notably, his bowling workload during the Chennai and Kanpur Tests was limited, with him delivering only 21 and 14 overs, respectively. This sparked speculation that the doubts surrounding his action might have influenced his reduced role as a bowler.

In the County Championship, Shakib bowled a hefty 63.1 overs in a single four-day game, but the subsequent questioning of his action marked an unprecedented incident in his otherwise spotless career. Despite a period when the ICC imposed stricter measures on bowlers' actions in the mid-2010s, Shakib had never been implicated, unlike many others, including his compatriots Taskin Ahmed and Al-Amin Hossain.

The root of the match officials' concerns during the County game remains unclear, especially since Shakib’s action has passed scrutiny under similar systems for years.