Shakib Al Hasan has always been known for carrying an enormous workload for Bangladesh, often performing with both bat and ball across formats. But last year, during his county stint with Surrey, that burden finally caught up with him. The former Bangladesh captain was reported for a suspect bowling action during a County Championship match in Taunton, a moment that led to a suspension and months of rebuilding. Now, nearly a year later, Shakib Al Hasan has opened up about what really happened and how exhaustion played a bigger role than anyone knew.
The incident took place against Somerset, where Shakib Al Hasan bowled more overs in a single match than he ever had in a Test. After an independent assessment at Loughborough University confirmed that his action had slipped outside legal limits, he was automatically banned from all ECB-sanctioned competitions and the ICC extended the ruling to international cricket. Speaking on a podcast, Shakib Al Hasan admitted that the immense workload had pushed him into altering his action.
He said he bowled more than 70 overs in that match, something he had never done even at Test level. Coming straight off back-to-back Tests in Pakistan, he was already fatigued before stepping into that four-day game. The combination of physical strain and mental tiredness affected his rhythm and he acknowledged that he may have adjusted his action subconsciously just to get through the overs.
Despite feeling that the umpires might have offered a warning, Shakib Al Hasan accepted their decision without protest, recognising that the rules supported their call. His first reassessment in the UK and another in Chennai confirmed the issue, prompting him to work closely with Surrey’s coaches to rebuild his action. After just a couple of intensive sessions, he felt himself returning to normal.
A third assessment at Loughborough earlier this year finally cleared him to bowl again. But the time away from bowling had consequences. The Bangladesh Cricket Board chose not to include him in the Champions Trophy squad, even though they stated he was fully available to feature as a specialist batter in all formats. For Shakib Al Hasan, the journey has been a reminder of how fine the margins can be when balancing workload, form and fitness and how quickly things can shift when the body has had enough.
