Sabbir's ban underway

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) disciplinary committee's recommendation to suspend Sabbir Rahman from international cricket for six months as punishment for abusing a fan on social media and keeping in mind all his past indiscretions was approved by board president Nazmul Hassan yesterday.

"The BCB president has approved the recommendation for Sabbir's punishment from the disciplinary committee. The ban has been in effect from September 1," BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury told reporters yesterday.

The immediate effect of the punishment is that Sabbir will be out of the national team until the end of February and will be unavailable for the home series against Zimbabwe and West Indies, as well as a part of their New Zealand tour. He will also have to fight hard to play in the 2019 World Cup, to be held in England.

Sabbir had just finished serving a ban from domestic cricket for physically assaulting a fan during a first-class match last December, for which he was also fined Tk 20 lakh and consequently lost his central contract.

The disciplinary committee has also warned the 26-year old cricketer that another offence would result in a long-term or life ban.