Harsha Bhogle reacts to Shakib Al Hasan's ban, calls him 'lucky'

The 'Voice of Indian cricket' Harsha Bhogle termed banned Bangladesh cricketer Shakib Al Hasan as lucky as he got a suspended sentence - which meant that he could return to action in a year. Shakib Al Hasan was handed a two-year ban along with a one-year suspension for not reporting a corrupt approach made by a bookie earlier. Calling Shakib Al Hasan's ban huge and terrible for cricket in Bangladesh, Harsha Bhogle said that all players must be aware of ICC's anti-corruption code and also laid emphasis on the dangers faced by players who earn lesser compared to other countries and how they were vulnerable to the dangers. Harsha Bhogle said that he had enjoyed watching Shakib Al Hasan play and hoped that he would return soon to action to contribute to Bangladesh. Harsha Bhogle also took a dig at those who were ill-informed about the ban on Australian trio David Warner, Steve Smith, and Cameron Bancroft and said that it was Cricket Australia who had handed them a year's ban and not ICC. 

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Harsha Bhogle reacts to Shakib al Hasan's ban 

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Shakib Al Hasan banned for two years

The ban comes as a huge blow for Bangladesh cricket ahead of their much-anticipated tour of India, which comprises three T20 Internationals and two Tests, beginning with the shortest format games on November 3. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), however, said that doors will be opened for Shakib once his ban ends. "We hope he will come back as a better and wiser cricketer and serve Bangladesh for many more years when his sanction will be over," BCB said in a statement. "During the suspension, the BCB will continue to support his efforts at returning to cricket. "The BCB respects the ICC's decision and shares similar sentiments against corruption in cricket."

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Shakib Al Hasan accepts charges

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." The ICC said Aggarwal had asked Shakib to provide information on team composition and strategy on three separate occasions, one of them being April 26, 2018, when his IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad was to take on Kings XI Punjab. Sunrisers won the game by 13 runs. Shakib had "accepted three charges of breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code", something which went in his favour as he escaped the maximum punishment of five years for the offense. 

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