During one of the ODI matches between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, back in 2014 at Mirpur, cameras caught ace all-rounder Shakib al Hasan making an offensive gesture.
After getting dismissed at a crucial juncture of the game, a disappointed Shakib sat in the dressing room and pointed at his crotch, asking the cameraman not to take his picture.
Consequently, Shakib was handed a three-match ban and penalty of BDT 300,000 after a disciplinary panel was appointed by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
Sitting along his side was Shafiul Islam who faced the brunt of Shakib’s action for his laugh. During a recent interaction, Islam talked in detail about the incident. According to Shafiul, Shakib’s ‘absent-mindedness’ caused him to make an inappropriate gesture.
“That was a very close match for us and Shakib Bhai got out in very crucial moments too. He was very excited and he came out with a towel after becoming fresh from the change room. He did not understand what was happening and he told the cameraman not to take his picture and he brought up his finger absent-mindedly,” Shafiul said while interacting on Cricfrenzy’s Facebook Live video.
Shafiul was also called in by the committee to enquire about his reaction. There, he went on to reveal that it was something funny in the dressing room, which prompted him to start laughing.
“In the dressing room there was some funny talks going around and I also started laughing and due to that I was also called [in front of the disciplinary panel] and I said Shakib Bhai did not say anything,” he said.
Later, pacer Shiaful suggested that Shakib’s action was unintentional and that he did not anticipate the issue would blow out in such proportion.
“Probably, he was disappointed after getting out, and afterwards when the camera followed him it was hard for him to take. I think it [inappropriate gesture] was not intentional and no one understood that it will become such a big issue,” he concluded.
Bangladesh’s marquee all-rounder, Shakib, is currently serving his ban-period sanctioned by (BCB) after he failed to report being contacted by bookies during a UAE-based franchise league.
