He Will Lead Us To 2023 World Cup: Bangladeshi Players Extend Support To Suspended Shakib Al Hasan

Star Bangladeshi all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who was banned from international cricket by the ICC for two year (one of those is suspended), has found support from fellow players, who exuded confidence that he will bounce back strongly and lead the side to the 2023 World Cup. Bangladesh ODI captain Mashrafe Mortaza said that although he will spend many sleepless nights after the ICC ban on his colleague, he knows that Shakib will make successful comeback.

"Definitely I will spend some sleepless nights in the light of the recent incidents surrounding my comrade of 13 years. But I can also sleep in peace soon knowing fully well that he will lead us to the 2023 World Cup because the name is Shakib Al Hasan," Mashrafe wrote on Twitter in Bengali.

Former skipper and Bangladesh wicket-keeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim also extended his support to the world’s best all rounder in ODIs. Rahim said, "Don’t know what should I say. Still I can’t able to believe that we have to play without you. But I know and believe one thing that you will be definitely comeback strongly. We will be waiting for the day @Sah75official bhai. #WeAreWithShakib."

Also Read | Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina Comes Out In Support Of Suspended Shakib Al Hasan

On Tuesday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) banned Shakib for two years for failing to report corrupt approaches by a suspected Indian bookie on numerous occasions. Shakib was spoken to by the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit in January and August this year and he failed to report the approaches made to him by "an individual known to the ACU and suspected of involvement in corruption in cricket, Deepak Aggarwal."

Twelve months of the ban is a suspended sentence which will come into effect if the 32-year-old fails to comply with the anti-corruption code of the world body. The one-year ban that he has to serve will keep him out of next year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) and also the World T20 to be held in Australia from October 18 to November 15 the same year.