Shakib clears bowling action reassessment test

Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan’s ban from bowling in top-flight domestic and international cricket has been lifted by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Shakib will now be able to bowl in ODIs and leagues around the world, including the County Championship and the Hundred.

"The news is right (clearing the bowling test) and I am cleared to bowl again," Shakib told Cricbuzz.

Shakib, who had never previously been reported in his professional career spanning 20 years, gave his third bowling assessment test at Loughborough University on March 9 and learnt of the outcome on Wednesday, reported ESPNcricinfo.

All 22 deliveries during his test were cleared. A BCB statement further said that Shakib has "successfully remedied his action."

Shakib was first suspended from bowling in all forms of cricket in December. He failed his first test at Loughborough University, prompting the ECB to suspend him.

In accordance with clause 11.3 of the ICC's regulations for illegal bowling actions, his suspension was automatically recognised and enforced by the ICC in international cricket and by all national cricket federations in their respective domestic competitions, the report said.

He failed a second test in Chennai in January, following which the Bangladesh selectors didn't pick him for the Champions Trophy, which was supposed to be his international swansong.

The 37-year-old southpaw’s bowling action came under scrutiny during a County Championship match for Surrey against Somerset in September 2024. Subsequently, the ECB suspended him following an independent evaluation that declared his action illegal.

The development comes as a huge relief for Shakib who had been excluded from the national team as the selectors didn't want to pick him as a specialist batter.