Bangladesh lifted a ban on disgraced fast bowler Shahadat Hossain yesterday, allowing him to play domestic matches weeks after he apologised for torturing an 11-year-old girl he employed as a maid.
Hossain was banned from all forms of cricket last year by the Bangladesh Cricket Board after he became a subject of investigation for alleged criminal offence, which drew huge media interest. The BCB said Hossain was now free to play domestic cricket including the lucrative Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) after he made an emotional appeal seeking a return to cricket.
“He, however, will not be considered for national team selection until his legal issues are settled,” BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury said, adding the ban was lifted on “humanitarian considerations”.
Hossain, who has denied abusing the girl in the past, apologised on April 28 for what he called his “misdeed” and said he had made “a mistake”. “I regret the unwarranted incident I was involved in and apologise to the whole nation,” the cricketer said in an emotional statement.
Bangladeshi police charged the 29-year-old pacer and his wife, Nritto Shahadat, with charges of assault and torture last year after the young girl was found crying on a roadside, her eyes bruised and swollen.
The couple went into hiding after police raided their house in September when the girl complained that they had beaten and tortured her. Television footage showed her frail and thin looking appearance and police said one of her hands had been burnt with a hot cooking paddle.
Hossain spent two months in custody after he handed himself in to police on October 5 and has since been released on bail, as was his wife. A judge has ordered that the couple would face trial and if convicted they would face up to 14 years in jail. But a source said the couple and the girl’s family may agree to a financial settlement that would see her withdrawing the allegations.
 
Middlesex move for Australia batsman Bailey
Australia batsman and former limited-overs captain George Bailey will join Middlesex at the end of next month, the English county announced yesterday.
The 33-year-old, capped 104 times by his country across the formats, will play for Middlesex from late June until mid-August.
He will replace compatriot Adam Voges while the Middlesex captain is on Test duty in Sri Lanka and follows New Zealanders Brendon McCullum and Mitchell McClenaghan in pitching up at Lord’s this year.
“Obtaining high-quality overseas player cover for an entire season is extremely difficult and everyone at Middlesex is delighted that we have been able to acquire the services of a player of George’s ability,” said Middlesex’s managing director of cricket Angus Fraser. “George is an outstanding cricketer with an excellent record in all forms of the game and as someone who has captained his country, he will be a valuable addition to the squad both on and off the field.”
Bailey, who played for Sussex last year, told the Middlesex website: “I can’t wait to get over there. “I’m itching to play in the UK again after a productive and enjoyable stint last year. Playing at Lord’s is an absolute honour. Who wouldn’t want to have Lord’s as their home ground?”
Bailey is currently playing for Rising Pune Supergiants in the Indian Premier League.

Records tumble as Root and Bairstow run riot
England stars Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow warmed up for next week’s first Test against Sri Lanka in record-breaking style as they shattered a host of Yorkshire records in their triple-century stand against Surrey on Monday.
Root finished the second day of the County Championship fixture unbeaten on 190, while Bairstow scored 198 as the pair put on a fourth-wicket partnership of 372 to help First Division champions Yorkshire reach 486 for five at Headingley. Having joined forces at 45 for three early in the day’s play, it took only 67 overs of blistering stroke-play from Root and Bairstow to etch their names into the Yorkshire record books.
Yorkshire’s highest stand against Surrey, George Hirst and Ted Wainwright’s 340 at The Oval in 1899, was the first milestone surpassed before they overtook Darren Lehmann and Michael Lumb’s 358, the all-time club best for the fourth wicket just 10 years ago.
Eventually all but four of Yorkshire’s top partnerships under any category were all surpassed in a dazzling display that must be heartening for England when they return to Headingley to face Sri Lanka next Thursday.
Elsewhere in the Championship, Brett D’Oliveira made another piece of history for his famous family as Worcestershire took control against Glamorgan in the Second Division.
D’Oliveira hit 202 not out in Worcestershire’s total of 456 for six declared as he emulated his father Damien and grandfather Basil. The D’Oliveira trio are now the first grandfather, father and son to score first-class double centuries.
The 24-year-old’s impressive innings came just days after he recorded his maiden Championship ton.