New Delhi: Shakib Al Hasan might have registered his worst bowling figures in his long Test career but Bangladesh are in no mood to dump him.
The touring team crashed to a 280-runs win to India in Chennai on Sunday in the first Test, with the final match of the two-match series scheduled to begin from September 27 in Kanpur.
Former Test skipper Shakib Al Hasan took a beating with the ball, his left arm spin bowling unable to claim a wicket while conceding 129 runs in 21 overs,
his most expensive bowling figures in Tests.
For veteran Shakib, it was only the fifth time that he went wicket less in a Test match in which he bowled a minimum of 20 overs.
When asked if Bangladesh would mull to drop Shakib for the Kanpur Test, Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto was dismissive of the thought.
“Very brave question. Masha Allah!” he said after their los, adding that as a captain he looks for effort from a player into his game, which is not lacking in Shakib;s case.
“He (Shakib) is doing everything possible to get his form back. Whether he is struggling enough to make a comeback (for me what is important is that) what is their intention towards the team and how much he is willing to give to the team.
“I look at these things mainly. Some people might think that I am saying it because the question is about Shakib bhai. I try to look at everyone in the same way, whether it is, from Nahid Rana to Mushfiq bhai.
“More than whether he is scoring runs or not, I look at how is his preparation. What is his thinking about the team. I am happy with the way that every member of this Test squad has prepared and been willing to give to the team.”
‘Injury woes’
Shakib had an injury in his spinning finger and played through pain in Chennai, not willing to undergo a surgery before the series.
He had picked up an injury on his left index finger during the 2023 ODI World Cup in India and also had to miss their group stage match against India in he tournament with a shoulder complaint.
“His (Shakib’s) finger was taped. He was bleeding from his finger from the last time he was hit there,” Shanto said.
“I don’t feel comfortable talking about a player’s individual performance. This is a team game, and only a whole team’s contribution makes it possible to win a game.”
Bangladesh crashed to a 280-runs win to India in Chennai in the first Test, with veteran Shakib Al Hasan going wicketless Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
