Shahadat handed five-year ban for assault

[Ulquiorra]

 

Shahadat has been banned for five years, with two years suspended © Getty

Shahadat Hossain, the former Bangladesh Test pacer, has been handed a five-year ban (with two years suspended) and fined Taka 3 lakh for assaulting teammate Arafat Sunny during the ongoing National Cricket League. The incident took place during the second day's play between Dhaka Division and Khulna Division at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna.

Arafat had reportedly said that Shahadat was not competent to shine one side of the ball, which angered the pacer who then attacked Sunny. Shahadat accepted the verdict of the match referee, which was then passed on to the technical committee of BCB, who eventually came up with the decision of penalising and suspending the player.

"It is true that I lost my temper but he also misbehaved with me as he refused to shine the ball and when I asked why he answered in a tone that was degrading and difficult for me to digest," Shahadat had told Cricbuzz defending his actions.

Match referee Akhtar Ahmed too had stern words for the player and confirmed he had submitted a report to BCB. "The match referee has no authority to punish Shahadat for what he has done. His offence falls under level 4 offence,'' he had pointed out. "This is a big offense because it is not something like a bad gesture or an abuse. He kicked his teammates. Now it has been sent to BCB. The board will decide whether to punish him after the evidence and verification of the incident."

Shahadat has played 38 Tests and 51 ODIs for Bangladesh apart from six T20Is and has 123 wickets to show for. He had been suspended before as well after he allegedly tortured his house help.