Published:9 November 2020
All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh calls it a "blessing in disguise" but says he is also prepared to be questioned by teammates when, after serving a one-year suspension for failing to disclose unethical approaches, he returns to cricket in a few days.
On October 29 last year, Shakib was handed a two-year ban, one year suspended, by the Anti-Corruption Unit of the ICC for failing to reveal several corrupt approaches by an Indian bookmaker.
In many good ways, it has benefited me. A lot of doors have opened for me, and I can think differently about life. It's a blessing in disguise. This year, I don't regret it,' said Shakib in a video posted on his official YouTube channel. A man is much more mature when he comes back from this situation. I think differently now than before, and indeed, this will benefit me in my life.
The 33-year-old is among 113 cricketers ahead of the Bangabandhu T20 tournament who will go through a fitness test on Nov. 9 and 10.
Asked if his teammates were going to doubt him, Shakib said: "It's a hard question because I'm not sure what anyone's mind is going through." They might doubt me or have no faith in me, and I don't thoroughly oppose that.
But because I spoke to almost everybody, I didn't feel that way. I assume they're going to trust me the way they used to do, but in some corner of their minds, someone might doubt me because it's that kind of thing.