What is the matter with Shakib?

What is going on in Bangladesh Cricket? Why for all wrong reasons country’s leading all-rounder is hitting the headlines almost routinely?

The Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been called back for preparation with the national team for its Caribbean tour after he left to play for Caribbean Premier League (CPL) for Barbados.

As a BCB contracted player he is obligated to prefer playing for country first unless being officially approved by his employer to play elsewhere.

Media report states of Shakib taking verbal permission prior to leaving the country. Who has given that verbal permission? Is he authorized to giving such permission? Without formal permission why should a responsible senior professional leave the country when his mates will be preparing for a very important series under a new coaching unit?

Cricket in Bangladesh is no longer an amateur game. It is professional to the extent that some players are contracted employee of BCB. There is definite code of conduct which the players must abide by. Shakib or anyone must not have special treatment. On the other hand if any responsible person in BCB had given him verbal permission to go he must stand by it and defend Shakib’s leaving Bangladesh for playing in the CPL.

There is no doubt about playing ability of Shakib and his continued contribution to the national level. But at the same time Shakib getting entangled regularly in different controversies does not also looks fitting to his professional acumen.

He has already been involved in several controversies for which any star player in any other country even would be more severely penalized. But for weak personalities of BCB disciplinary committee he could manage to escape with light punishment.

In the recent past leaving the dressing room during an International match in progress he got involved in a brawl with certain group of spectators allegedly pausing indecorous remarks about his wife . Before that in not too distant past he made highly objectionable gesture to electronic media during a match of T 20 world cup.

National cricketers are ICON in Bangladesh now whatever be the standard of cricket in international level. Young players and teenagers like to idolize them. What lessons our teenagers are getting from Shakib’s continued arrogance and attitude?

BCB must come up with clarification and explain to the nation why they hesitated in disciplining the defaulting national cricketer despite of his repeated breach of player’s code of conduct? Nobody is above the country and nation. Everyone has to obey certain rules and procedures.

We hope BCB would create some example which will keep the contracted employee honest and committed to their duties and responsibilities.

Engr Khondkar A Saleque Sufi is a NRB Energy Professional and free lance sports Writer, has over four decades of sport writing experience starting from his BUET days in 1970s. He lives in Australia and spends his leisure in writing on Energy & Sports in different International magazines and Journals.