Mushfiqur Rahim backs Shakib, says "hoping you make a comeback soon"

Bangladesh's wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim expressed support for teammate and former skipper Shakib-al-Hasan, who was handed a two-year ban from the ICC for not reporting a corrupt approach earlier. Shakib's ban comes as a blow for Bangladesh ahead of their tour to India where they would be playing their first-ever day-night Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have backed Shakib and have said that they will stand by him. 

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Mushfiqur Rahim's message for Shakib

Bangladesh's wicketkeeper took to his Facebook handle to post a heartwarming message for Shakib. Recounting the years spent with Shakib on the field, Mushfiqur Rahim said that he could not help but feel sad to play without Shakib on the field.  Expressing his support for Shakib, Mushfiqur Rahim hoped that Shakib would make a comeback soon and like a champion. 

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Shakib 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 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 offence. 

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