BCB may lift ban on Shakib's NOC soon

BCB president Nazmul Hassan has suggested that Shakib Al Hasan is close to being released from the No Objection Certificate (NOC) embargo, which was part of his punishment back in July when the board had first penalised him. He has indicated that Shakib's all-round show in the current Zimbabwe Test series and change in off-field behaviour will help him regain his position for foreign leagues.

"Shakib has played a leadership role in both the Tests," Hassan said. "There is no doubt that he is one of the best players in the world. He had requested me verbally to allow him to play overseas after which I told him he needs to prove that on and off the field and then the board will think.

"So he has proved himself on the field now, it will be tough for us to say no to him if he appeals to the board for granting him the NOCs. But I don't want to make things upside-down before the third Test. This decision should always come from the board."

Shakib was suspended on July 7 for what the board called "serious misbehaviour" with Bangladesh's new coach Chandika Hathurusingha, and for his altercation with a spectator during an ODI against India. On August 26, the BCB had reduced his six-month suspension by three-and-a-half months, allowing him to be available for selection from September 15. However, at the time, the BCB's ban on NOC, which Shakib required to participate in overseas leagues, remained until the end of 2015.

Shakib became only the third player since Imran Khan and Ian Botham to take a ten wickets and score a century in the same Test. He has also regained the No. 1 position in the ICC Test rankings for allrounders, and was named the vice-captain of the Bangladesh ODI squad for the five-match series.