Shakib Al Hasan banned for six months by BCB

DHAKA: Bangladesh cricket authorities on Monday suspended star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan for six months due to a "severe attitude problem", the cricket board chief said.

He was banned from all cricket for six months and will not be granted an NOC to play in overseas competitions until the end of 2015. The decision was taken at a board of directors meeting in Dhaka on Monday.

"He has a severe attitude problem, which is unprecedented in the history of Bangladesh cricket. We think that his behaviour is such that it´s directly impacting the team," Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan told reporters.

The punishment was handed out because of Shakib's involvement in several disciplinary issues of late. The allrounder had left for the Caribbean to play in the CPL without a valid NOC, and reportedly threatened to quit playing Tests and Twenty20 internationals. He was ordered to return to Bangladesh by the board to join a training camp, and later denied threatening to quit and said that his departure for the CPL was a result of a misunderstanding over the NOC.

The BCB president Nazmul Hasan had earlier criticised Shakib for setting a bad example, referring to the CPL incident. He also said Shakib had shown a disregard for protocol by leaving the dressing-room during the first ODI against India and reportedly getting involved in an altercation with a spectator, who had allegedly harassed Shakib's wife. (AFP)