I was tired and chucked intentionally, admits Shakib Al Hasan on County suspension

Out-of-favour Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan admitted that physical fatigue forced him to intentionally resort to chucking during an English County game for Surrey, which subsequently led to his suspension from bowling.

Left-arm spinner Shakib was suspended from bowling in all competitions organised by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) after his action was deemed illegal at an independent test at Loughborough University in December last year.

The umpires called his action during a first-class game for Surrey against Somerset in Taunton, in which he had bowled close to 65 overs across two innings.

“I think I was doing it a little bit intentionally because I bowled more than 70 overs (in one match),” Shakib told the Beard Before Wicket podcast.

“I never bowled 70 overs in my career in a Test match. I was playing that four-day match for Surrey against Somerset in Taunton. I was so tired.

“I played back-to-back Test matches in Pakistan. We won that series, and then I went to play those four-day matches. The only thing I was thinking the umpire could have done was just warn me first, at least. But it is in the rules, so they had the right. I didn’t complain.”

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Shakib revealed that he failed the action correction test initially and later got his glitch corrected. “I went to do the test, and I failed. And then I saw my test. I was like, ‘Okay, so these things are happening’. Then I had to train for a couple of weeks, so I went back to Surrey again, and they were kind enough to help me. I did two sessions, and I was back to normal. I was like, ‘it’s so easy’.”

Soon-to-be 39 Shakib, a former Member of Bangladesh Parliament, fled his country last year after Sheikh Hasina’s government was overthrown. Since then, he has retired from Test cricket and has not been picked for white-ball teams.

Shakib had also failed a second bowling test in Chennai, after which the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) selectors didn’t pick him for the Champions Trophy. Even the board had clarified he was available to play as a batter in all forms of domestic and international cricket.

‘Wants home farewell series before ending career’

He also said that he wants to return home to play a match in all three formats before ending his international career, the 38-year-old said.

“I am officially not retired from all formats,” Shakib said. “This is the first time I’ll be revealing that. My plan is to go back to Bangladesh, play one full series of ODI, test, and T20, and retire.

“I mean, (I can) retire from all formats in a series … I want to play a whole series and retire. That’s what I want.”

Shakib has not played international cricket since his 71st test in India last year, after which he announced his retirement from T20 Internationals.

He then requested to play a farewell Test at home in the series against South Africa, but the interim government was unable to guarantee his safety due to his political past.

The all-rounder said been playing franchise cricket around the world in the hopes he will be able to play for Bangladesh again. “I am hopeful. That’s why I’m playing (T20 leagues). I think it will happen,” he added.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Published on Dec 08, 2025