Dhaka, Mar 24 (V7N) - Former Bangladesh captain Shakib al Hasan stirred controversy in the country's sports arena Saturday evening after publicly announcing his affiliation with a betting company.

In his social media post, Shakib encouraged his followers to join the platform - illegal in Bangladesh - and even offered a promo code under his name for a joining bonus.

While the Public Gambling Act of 1867 prohibits public gambling and common casinos in Bangladesh, the rise of online gambling has created a legal gray area.


Shakib, a former member of parliament under the now-ousted Sheikh Hasina government, has now openly declared his involvement, sparking widespread criticism.

Social media platforms have been flooded with backlash against Shakib’s decision to promote gambling, which is not only illegal but also socially and religiously unacceptable in the country.

Dhaka Tribune reached out to Bangladesh Cricket Board president Faruk Ahmed, who was unable to provide an immediate response.

"Yes, I first heard about it and then saw his involvement with the betting company. I am not in a position to comment on this right away. We have a board meeting tomorrow [Monday]; let’s see if this issue is discussed there,” said Faruk Sunday.


There is ongoing debate about whether Shakib, who is no longer part of the BCB’s central players' contract, is now free to make his own decisions without board interference.

However, some argue that the board should still have a say on the matter.

Last Thursday, the BCB’s media wing took responsibility for announcing the results of Shakib’s independent assessment report on his bowling action.

In a media release, the BCB stated that it had received confirmation that Shakib had successfully remedied his bowling action and that his suspension from bowling in England and Wales Cricket Board competitions, including County Cricket and The Hundred, had been lifted with immediate effect.

“This is where the confusion lies. If the board can take responsibility for widely announcing Shakib’s bowling clearance, then it should also have a say regarding his involvement with a betting company,” said a senior BCB official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

This is not the first time Shakib has courted controversy over his involvement with gambling-related organizations.

In August 2022, he announced his ambassadorship for a betting surrogate company, which did not sit well with the BCB.

The then-president, Nazmul Hasan, issued a show-cause notice to Shakib for his association with a brand affiliated with one of the world’s largest online gambling platforms.


At the time, Shakib, who was under the BCB’s central players’ contract, later withdrew from the sponsorship deal with Betwinner News.

However, his involvement with gambling platforms did not end there - he was later found to be associated with another betting company through his participation in the GT20 Canada franchise, Montreal Tigers.

 

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