Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) lift NOC ban on Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib Al Hasan free to represent Adelaide Strikers in the BBL

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have ended the restriction on the no-objection certificate (NOC) that was issued to their country’s premier all-rounder, Shakib Al Hasan. This now means that the 27-year-old can take part in all overseas competitions.

"He has no barrier to play abroad. We have lifted the embargo on his NOC.It was a unanimous decision on behalf of the BCB's board of directors," BCB president Nazmul Hassan said.

Hassan added that Shakib’s improvement in behaviour didn't go unnoticed among the board officials, and he was also lauded for showing leadership qualities.

"We are not against our players.However, there are times when situations demand strict measures. The ban and NOC embargo on Shakib was a message to everyone that we will not compromise with discipline,” Hassan said.

"I am glad that the player took the sanctions in the right spirit and showed his character by coming back strongly. I believe the outcome in the context of the Bangladesh team has also been positive and we have definitely seen greater teamwork and camaraderie during the series against Zimbabwe," he added.

Shakib can now play in the Big Bash League

Shakib was banned for 6 months in July and was told that he wouldn't receive an NOC from the board until December 2015, which meant that he couldn’t play in various T20 competitions across the world. He was punished for “serious misbehaviour ” against head coach Chandika Hathurusingha and for also having a quarrel with a spectator during an ODI versus India in June.

That ban was reduced to three-and-half months by the board, which allowed Shakib to play for Bangladesh from September 15.

This decision by the board to lift the restriction means that he will now be able to represent the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League, starting on December 18.