Bangladesh’s most celebrated all-rounder, Shakib Al Hasan, has long been seen as a player of unmatched brilliance whose career has been as turbulent as it has been triumphant. While his performances with both bat and ball have earned him legendary status, his fiery temper and off-field disputes have repeatedly cast shadows over his achievements. (News18 Hindi)
Over the years, Shakib’s name has been linked to several heated confrontations – with umpires, spectators, and even cricket administrators. His repeated run-ins with authority have sparked national debate, culminating in an ICC ban that temporarily halted his career. And in recent months, his foray into politics has further complicated his public image, reportedly forcing him to leave Bangladesh after the country’s leadership change under Sheikh Hasina. (News18 Hindi)
The first of his many controversies dates back to 2010 during an ODI against New Zealand, when a visibly agitated Shakib, frustrated by distractions near the sightscreen, threatened a member of the ground staff with his bat. The incident shocked fans and officials alike, marking the beginning of a pattern of volatile behaviour. (News18 Hindi)
A year later, during the 2011 World Cup match against the West Indies in Mirpur, Bangladesh’s dismal collapse for just 58 runs incited violent reactions from fans, who hurled stones at the visiting team’s bus. Shakib, in turn, retaliated by showing the middle finger to the hostile crowd, a gesture that went unpunished but stirred widespread criticism. (News18 Hindi)
In 2014, Shakib again found himself at the centre of a controversy during an ODI against Sri Lanka, when cameras caught him making an obscene gesture from the dressing room after being dismissed. The Bangladesh Cricket Board fined him 3,00,000 BDT and imposed a three-match suspension. (News18 Hindi)
That same year, during a rain delay in a match against India, reports surfaced that Shakib had confronted a spectator accused of harassing his wife. Though he denied any altercation, he admitted breaching dressing room protocol. Tensions also flared between Shakib and then head coach Chandika Hathurusingha, when the all-rounder defied team management to play in the Caribbean Premier League. The board denied him a no-objection certificate, prompting Shakib to threaten retirement from international cricket. (News18 Hindi)
His confrontations weren’t limited to management. In the Bangladesh Premier League, Shakib was twice reprimanded for aggressive behaviour towards umpires – once in 2013 for arguing over a wide call and again in 2015 for verbally abusing an official over an LBW decision. The latter incident resulted in a suspension and a fine, further staining his disciplinary record. (News18 Hindi)
The most damaging episode of Shakib’s career came in October 2019, when the International Cricket Council banned him for two years for breaching its anti-corruption code. He admitted to failing to report multiple approaches by a bookmaker during international and IPL matches in 2018, a revelation that stunned the cricketing world. (News18 Hindi)
