The Ministry of Youth and Sports will remain by Shakib Al Hassan whatever decision the International Cricket Board takes over his concealing a match fixing offer to the international cricket regulator.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russell made assertion while talking to reporters at his Secretariat office on Tuesday (Oct 29).
Shakib, the current Test and T20I captain of Bangladesh national cricket team, is facing the risk of a ban for concealing offer of a gambler for match fixing during quiz by ICC.
Russell said, “We’re unclear about what is going to happen about Shakib. We’ve talked to [Bangladesh Cricket] Board. They are also not informed of the matter. ICC is probing it. We may know it today. However, we will remain by him so that he cannot subject to any punishment illogically.”
He said the India tour of Shakib is still uncertain as ICC has not yet informed BCB about what is happening. “I’ve asked the board to contact ICC. Today they will contact ICC. We can know today what is going to happen.”
Asked if the match fixing probe issue has come to the fore because of the cricketers’ strike, the junior minister said, “That (strike issue) has been solved. The two matters have no co-relation.”
“I didn’t know that ICC had been probing Shakib. Board has said they were also not informed of it. Shakib had taken the matter lightly. He couldn’t understand the issue will go so far,” he said.
Asked if he senses any foreign conspiracy, Russell said, “Shakib issue has come to light after the news of involvement of BCB director in illegal casino operation, and movement of the cricketers. Everything is unclear to me. However the cloud will be clear soon.”