Shakib al Hasan suspended for abusing umpire

Shakib al Hasan has been handed one match suspension for abusing the on-field umpire

Bangladesh star all-rounder Shakib al Hasan is involved in yet another controversy as he was charged for abusing the on-field umpire during a Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match.

Shakib, who is currently leading the Rangpur Riders, has been suspended for one match for breaching the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s code of conduct.

The incident happened during the match against Sylhet Super Stars on Thursday.

Shakib was reported by the on-field umpires Ranmore Martinesz and Tanvir Ahmed for two incidents, the latter of which had left the umpires visibly in shock.

The first incident came in the fourth over when Shakib used abusive language towards Sylhet Super Stars batsman Dilshan Munaweera after dismissing him.

Later, in the 13th over, the Riders raised a strong appeal for a caught behind decision against Mushfiqur Rahim but the umpire Tanvir turned it down. An agitated, Shakib started abusing the umpire as well.

Replays clearly showed that the ball had been quite far from Mushfiqur’s blade, but Shakib thought otherwise and made his thinking explicitly clear.

The all-rounder was seen shaking his head and confronting the umpire after the over. It was clear from the replays that whatever he had said left umpire Tanvir shocked and speechless.

Umpire Ranmore intervened and brought the situation under control, waving the players away from the scene.

The 28-year-old all-rounder is one of the most famous Bangladesh cricketers in the international circuit but he has a history of disciplinary problem both on and off the field.

The BCB last year suspended him for a six-month period for what it said was a ‘severe attitude problem.’ The ban, however, was lifted three months later after Shakib offered an unconditional apology.

He was also handed a three-match ban in the same year for a lewd gesture towards a television cameraman during an ODI match against Sri Lanka.

The BCB press release on Friday said that as Shakib admitted the offences and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Salim Shahed, a formal hearing was not required.

Shakib will miss his side’s clash against Comilla Victorians on Friday.

The Riders are sitting at the top of the points table with 6 points, but the absence of their captain will come as a blow to them. The 41-year-old Misbah ul Haq is expected to lead the team out on Friday.