BCB hands Barishal show-cause notice on Shakib issue

Shakib Al Hasan (C), Andre Russell (L) and Dwayne Bravo enjoy their time in the middle during Barishal Fortune’s BPL match against Minister Group Dhaka in Mirpur yesterday. They had reason to be jolly – Shakib getting into the 400-wicket club in T20s while Russell and Bravo both making their mark both with bat and ball. (Bottom) Andre Fletcher’s nasty injury though, during the second match of the day between Chattogram Challengers and Khulna Tigers, left everyone concerned. Photo: FIROZ AHMED

Fortune Barishal were handed a show-cause notice by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) after their skipper Shakib Al Hasan on Thursday skipped the official pre-final photoshoot that usually requires captains of the two finalists to be framed with the tournament trophy a day before the final.

Instead of Shakib, Barishal wicketkeeper-batter Nurul Hasan Sohan attended the event along with Comilla Victorians skipper Imrul Kayes ahead of their final Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) showdown on Friday.

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After the final on Friday, BCB president Nazmul Hassan said that it was a complete breach of the bio-secure bubble protocol and blamed the franchise for the misconduct.

"The series or tournament that is played under the supervision of the BCB, here we have to follow strict measures. But this time the franchises were given all the responsibilities to maintain the protocol. The franchise [Fortune Barishal] were given a show cause letter today inquiring about how he [Shakib] went on to breaking the bio bubble." 

"We have given clear instructions to all the franchises on how to maintain the bio-secure bubble. As they breach the protocol they we given a show-cause letter and I think the franchise should be held responsible for this and it is totally unacceptable," Hassan told the media after the final on Friday.

The confusions were created when two different versions of explanations behind Shakib's absence during the captains' photoshoot with the trophy ahead of the final were relayed to the media. 

While Barishal media manager informed Shakib had an upset stomach, Sohan, Barishal's proxy captain at the event, mentioned he saw Shakib at the gym before arriving for the photoshoot.

Turns out, Shakib was involved in a different photoshoot, fulfilling his commercial commitments. The all-rounder, however, came back to the team hotel later and returned negative on his Covid test and eventually played the final, which his team lost by just a solitary run.

Despite him being entangled in controversies, Shakib was adjudged the player-of-the-tournament for his all-around brilliance in the tournament.