No ties with Shakib if Betwinner contract not revoked: BCB president

Dhaka, 11 August - President of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) gave Shakib Al Hasan a stern warning by saying that they will cancel all relationships with the ace allrounder if his sponsorship deal with Betwinner news -- a sister concern of betting site Betwinner -- is not revoked.

The BCB boss said although Shakib was expected to let his decision be known in written form, he is yet to contact with the board in this regard.

"If Shakib does not terminate the contract (with Betwinner) he will have no relationship with the BCB," Papon told the media at his Beximco Office in the city after a meeting with some BCB directors.

Reiterating the BCB's zero tolerance policy toward betting, Papon further cleared that the cancellation of relationships means, Shakib will not be part of any cricket under the board's jurisdiction.

Even though agreement with such betting company is not disallowed by International Cricket Council (ICC) or Asian Cricket Council (ACC), the Bangladesh law doesn't permit any involvement with betting company. The BCB also has internal bar on such company.

Shakib verbally said some directors that since ICC and ACC have no bar on such company, he has signed a contract with them and moreover, he signed the agreement with Betwinner news, a cricket news website, not the Betwinner company, which originally deals the betting issue. Sources said he struck the deal with a whopping BDT 10 crore.

"The matter of Shakib... there is no second thought here. BCB's position is what it was from the beginning, it is still the same. When I first came to BCB, I said zero tolerance on these (betting, gambling). BCB will not accept them in any way, whichever way it is interpreted. There is no chance of it (agreement). We had to ban a cricketer like Ashraful. So, no one will be spared if he keeps any relationship with such company. Now it is up to Shakib," Papon remarked.

"No ties with a cricketer who has any involvement with betting-this is clear.
There is no question of having any relation. There can be no involvement whatsoever. You have to get out of there completely. Before that, no more discussion."

Even The BCB president said that Shakib's Test captaincy will be taken away straightway.

"There is no question of captaincy when he will not be in our team. Captaincy is the next thing. There is no room for discussion in this regard. This decision was taken earlier and we are very clear about our decision," he informed.

"We've given a letter. The answer should be received today. It was supposed to be given by yesterday. I heard he said he will give it today. I will wait and then decide whether he will stay or not."

After Shakib's answer, the team of the Asia Cup will be announced. And if his answer doesn't come within a couple of days, the board president said, the country's cricket will go ahead without Shakib Al Hasan.