Shakib admits to bowling with illegal action on purpose

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has revealed that he bowled with an illegal action a little bit intentionally.

He had been suspended from bowling in all competitions organised by the England and Wales Cricket Board after an independent test at Loughborough University last December found his bowling action illegal. As per ICC regulations, this suspension was automatically applied to international matches as well.

Shakib explained that his bowling action may have been affected by fatigue. He said he bowled more than 70 overs in a single four-day match for Surrey against Somerset in Taunton. This was after playing back-to-back Test matches in Pakistan. He admitted that he might have been unintentionally bowling with an illegal action due to exhaustion. He also mentioned that he wished the umpire could have given him a warning first, but he accepted that the rules were clear and did not complain.

After failing the official test, Shakib immediately worked on correcting his bowling action. He trained for a couple of weeks and returned to Surrey, where the coaching staff helped him with two practice sessions. He said the correction was not difficult and he quickly regained his normal bowling rhythm.

Shakib shared these experiences during his appearance on the Beard Before Wicket podcast, reflecting on the challenges of managing workload and fatigue during a busy cricket schedule. He emphasized that while the suspension was unexpected, it motivated him to focus on improving his technique.

The incident highlights the pressures international cricketers face during back-to-back matches and long domestic tours. Shakib’s quick recovery demonstrates the importance of proper training and support from coaching staff in maintaining a safe and legal bowling action while competing at the highest level.