The cricket captain of Bangladesh expressed confidence on Tuesday that star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will deliver an outstanding performance in the upcoming Test match against Pakistan this week. Despite recent controversies and objections concerning Shakib’s involvement due to his former role as a lawmaker, the captain remains optimistic that Shakib’s experience and skills will shine through, proving crucial for the team’s success.
Shakib, aged 37, served as a member of the Bangladesh parliament under the leadership of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The parliament was recently disbanded amid political turmoil, and Hasina had to flee the country earlier this month following widespread protests against her government. Despite the chaos, Shakib remains focused on his cricketing career, facing added pressure as he prepares for the upcoming Test match against Pakistan.
Last week, the temporary government allowed Shakib to play in the two Tests against Pakistan, despite his lack of response to the political crisis. The first Test will begin on Wednesday.
Having been playing this game for a while, he is fully aware of his role and how to get ready. “I am not considering his political career,” stated Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto during a press briefing.
When questioned about the impact of the political setback on Shakib’s performance, Shanto replied that he doesn’t believe it will have any effect because Shakib is a professional cricketer and they all view him as such, to be frank.
He added that he hopes for something remarkable from him in this series.
Shakib is the primary all-rounder for Bangladesh, having scored 4,505 runs and taken 237 wickets in 67 Test matches, the highest number of wickets by any Bangladeshi bowler in Test cricket.
Protests in Dhaka by Bangladeshis are happening due to Shakib’s ongoing presence in the team, with former Bangladesh Cricket Board member Rafiqul Islam blaming him for not speaking up while protesters were killed in confrontations with security forces.
Shakib arrived in Pakistan recently to be a part of the team, following his participation in the Global T20 League in Canada, where he was met with chants from Bangladesh supporters.
The team was unable to hold practice sessions due to the ongoing turmoil in Dhaka, which disrupted their preparations for the upcoming match and affected their overall training schedule.
The tourists were given a break when the Pakistan Cricket Board extended an invitation for them to come four days in advance to compensate for their inadequate preparations.
Nevertheless, Shanto remained optimistic that Bangladesh could reverse their poor Test record against Pakistan, despite losing 12 out of the last 13 Tests and only managing one draw.
Shanto stated that we possess a well-rounded team and he is optimistic about us showcasing some excellent cricket. I believe the record is changeable, it may be difficult but we have faith in accomplishing remarkable feats.
The Rawalpindi Test may be in jeopardy due to adverse weather conditions, as rain is anticipated for the entire five-day duration.
The upcoming Test match is scheduled for August 30 in the same venue.
Squads:
Pakistan’s lineup includes Abdullah Shafique at 1, Saim Ayub at 2, Shan Masood as captain at 3, Babar Azam at 4, Saud Shakeel at 5, Mohammad Rizwan as wicketkeeper at 6, Salman Ali Agha at 7, Shaheen Shah Afridi at 8, Naseem Shah at 9, Khurram Shahzad at 10, and Mohammad Ali at 11
Possible Bangladesh XI: 1 Shadman Islam, 2 Zakir Hasan, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), 4 Mominul Haque, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Shakib Al Hasan, 7 Litton Das (wk), 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Shoriful Islam, 10 Khaled Ahmed, 11 Hasan Mahmud/Nahid Rana.