Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan has been asked to undergo an analysis of his bowling action by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), following a report from the umpires during his one-off appearance for Surrey in the County Championship this season.
Shakib, 37, took nine wickets in a thrilling match against Somerset at Taunton in September, marking his first appearance in the competition since a brief stint with Worcestershire in 2010-11. The left-arm spinner had agreed to a short-term contract with Surrey to bolster their squad for the remainder of their title chase, with eight players away on England duty, including their main spinners Will Jacks and Dan Lawrence.
Although Shakib's performance made an immediate impact, he couldn’t prevent Somerset from securing a remarkable 111-run victory, which briefly halted Surrey’s pursuit of their third consecutive Championship title.
Shakib bowled more than 63 overs during the match, and although he was not no-balled at any point for a suspect action, it has emerged that the on-field umpires, Steve O'Shaughnessy and David Millns, later raised concerns about the legality of his bowling action.
As of now, Shakib has not been suspended from playing, but ESPNcricinfo understands that arrangements are being made for him to undergo further tests at an approved facility, with those tests likely to take place in the next few weeks.
This is believed to be the first time in Shakib’s two-decade-long career that his bowling action has been questioned. Over the course of his career, Shakib has taken 712 wickets in 447 international matches, including 246 wickets in 71 Tests.
Shakib's international future is currently uncertain following his withdrawal from Bangladesh's Test squad for the South Africa series last month, citing security concerns. His departure came amid protests related to his previous political role, as he had served as an MP for the Awami League-led government, which was toppled amid student protests in July.
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