Sakib Ummey Al Hasan, Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan’s wife, has taken to Facebook to defend her husband’s outburst during a Dhaka Premier League game against Abahani, where he was seen throwing and breaking the stumps in a fit of rage.

Shakib, who has previously captained Bangladesh, had issued an apology on Facebook, a few hours before his wife took to the platform and hinted at dubious umpiring decisions clouding the edition, and contributing to her husband’s response. He has been banned for three games following his outburst.

Stating that there was a “plot” against her husband to portray him as a “villain”, she also appreciated the support of the people who could see the “clear picture”. The post was accompanied by a picture of Shakib, cheered on by fans, kicking “corruption” out of a cricket stadium.

“I’m enjoying this incident as much as the media is, finally some news on TV!” she wrote. “It is great to see the support of the people who can see the clear picture of today’s incident at least someone has the guts to stand against all odds. However it is sad to see the main issue getting buried by the media highlighting only the anger that he showed. The main issue is the ongoing eye catching decisions of the umpires! The headlines are really saddening. To me it is a plot against him that has been going on for awhile to portray him as the villain in all circumstances! If you are a cricket lover beware of your actions!”

A total of 29 lbw decisions have been given in the tournament this season so far, with no lbw decision going against the Abahani side. Shakib first kicked the stumps in anger after his lbw appeal against Mushfiqur Rahim of Abahani was turned down.

There are grumblings amongst close followers of Bangladesh cricket that, while BCB board president Nazmul Hasan has ordered an investigation on the umpiring calls, little is expected to change. Nazmul served as the president of Abahani for almost a decade, and is the current chairman of the club, while Ismail Haider Mallick is the director of Abahani along with being a director with the BCB.

Khaled Mahmud, the current coach of Abahani also works as a director of the BCB along with being the chairman of the game development committee of the BCB.

It’s unclear what caused Shakib’s anger at the covers being called on by the umpires at 5.5 overs. There was speculation that Shakib felt this was being done to prevent the game from reaching a result, one ball before there would have been enough play to constitute a match. However his team would have been declared the winners even if play couldn’t be resumed. Mohammedan had Abahani on the mat at 31-3, and the minimum overs required for a completed game is five per side as the tournament is played according to ICC’s playing conditions. In the end, play was resumed and Mohammedan triumphed easily.

Shakib’s wife’s statement, however, indicates that there is more to the issue than what meets the eye.

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