World-class allrounder, Bangladesh’s finest
ONE-DAY WORLD CUP BATTING: Matches 29, Innings 29, Not Out 4, Highest Score 124*, Runs 1146, Average 45.84, Strike-rate 82.26, 100s 2, 50s 10, Catches 8
ONE-DAY WORLD CUP BOWLING: Balls 1433, Maidens 2, Runs 1222, Wickets 34, Average 35.94, Best Bowling 5/29, Runs/Over 5.11
The southpaw Shakib Al Hasan’s stock kept rising. Gradually, he was rated among the best allrounders in the world, and arguably Bangladesh’s finest cricketer. His volatile behaviour at times got him into trouble but his performances on the field kept charting a rising curve. His forthright batsmanship and wily left-arm spin built up a fine record for him since his debut in 2006. With nearly 4,500 runs at an average creeping towards 40 and 230 wickets at just above 31 apiece in Test matches, and heading towards 7000 runs at nearly 38 per innings and towards 300 wickets at an average under 30 in One-day Internationals, and with many good years still ahead of him, Shakib is heading towards the galaxy of the greats.
Shakib’s World Cup debut was in the famous upset of India in 2007. Though India were bowled out for 191, Shakib was unable to take a wicket. He, however, did a star turn with the bat, one of three half-centuries by youngsters that contributed to the shock win. After Tamim Iqbal’s aggressive 51 in 53 balls, Shakib combined with Mushfiqur Rahim in a match-winning fourth-wicket stand of 84 in 22.4 overs. The fifty of their partnership came in 15.1 overs. Shakib was stumped by Mahendra Singh Dhoni off Virender Sehwag. His 53 had come off 86 deliveries studded with a six and five boundaries. There were just 29 more runs to get. Mushfiqur was unbeaten with 56 (107 balls, 2 sixes, 3 fours) as they brought up a stunning five-wicket victory. The fearlessness of youth had prevailed over a very experienced and accomplished side.
Sri Lanka were relentless, piling up 318 for four. Shakib had Mahela Jayawardene caught at long-off, conceding 49 runs in his 10 overs. This time he was bowled by the great Muttiah Muralitharan for 4, Bangladesh folding up for 112.
It was an easy ride against first-timers Bermuda in a rain-curtailed 21-overs-a-side game. Shakib had Oliver Pitcher caught in the covers, and castled Lionel Cann. These wickets cost him 12 runs in three overs. He was unbeaten with 26 in an unfinished 59-run stand with Mohammad Ashraful as they breezed to a seven-wicket win.
Australia dominated their first super-eight fixture. Bangladesh were able to score only 104 for six in their allotted 22 overs. Shakib was joint top-scorer with 25. Australia breezed to a ten-wicket win. The Kiwis were just as unrelenting, bowling out Bangladesh for 174. Shakib once again scored 25. New Zealand knocked up a nine-wicket victory.
There was, however, a stunning upset of South Africa. Bangladesh posted 251 for eight. Shakib, though, was dismissed for 9. He contributed with the ball in the middle of the Proteas’ innings. He had Mark Boucher caught at long-off, and next ball caught Justin Kemp off his own bowling. Suddenly, South Africa slumped to 87 for six after 26.5 overs. There was a bit of a fightback but it was too little, too late. They were bowled out for 184. Shakib conceded 49 runs in his 10 overs for his two wickets.
Fortunes swung again. As the top-order crumbled against the English, Shakib came to the crease at 26 for three in 7.4 overs. Wickets continued to tumble around him as he dug in. He was able to forge a 47-run seventh-wicket partnership with Mashrafe Mortaza in 13.4 overs. Shakib raised his half-century off 82 balls. He ran out of partners as Bangladesh folded up for 143. Shakib was unbeaten for 57, having faced 95 deliveries, and struck 6 fours besides the six. England had to fight hard to reach this small target, losing six wickets in the process. Shakib was unable to pick up a wicket.
The Irish caused further anguish. They posted a challenging 243 for seven. Shakib had Niall O’Brien caught, playing the reverse sweep. He gave away 44 runs in his 10 overs. Bangladesh lost wickets regularly, Shakib being run out for 3, and slipped to 169 all out. The reverses continued as the West Indies scored 230 for five. Shakib had Marlon Samuels caught behind by Mushfiqur Rahim. The wicket cost him 38 runs in 8 overs. The Bangladesh innings never took off and were shot out for 131. Shakib was caught behind for a duck.
Shakib’s two half-centuries were indicative of his promise. He chipped in with a few wickets. His career was taking shape, along with those of several of his young colleagues.
With Virender Sehwag on the rampage in 2011, India piled up a huge 370 for four. Now at the helm, Shakib had Sehwag eventually playing on for 175. He expended 61 runs in 10 overs. Bangladesh put up a game fight. Shakib was associated in two useful partnerships. He added 59 for the third wicket in 9 overs with Tamim Iqbal, and 46 with Mushfiqur Rahim for the fourth wicket in 7.3 overs. He reached his half-century off 47 balls, and trying to raise the tempo was caught at mid-wicket. His 55 spanned 50 deliveries studded with six boundaries. Bangladesh totalled 283 for nine.
It was retribution in the faceoff with the Irish. Though Bangladesh were able to post only 205, they bowled out Ireland for 178. Shakib scored 16. With the ball he had his opposite number William Porterfield caught at mid-wicket. Shakib then had Niall O’Brien taken brilliantly by Tamim Iqbal at square-leg. He gave away 28 runs for those two wickets in his 8 overs.
There was a disaster at the hands of the West Indies. Shot out for 58, Bangladesh were beaten by nine wickets. Shakib was dismissed for 8.
In a thriller, Bangladesh pipped England by two wickets with just an over to spare. Shakib dismissed top-scorer Jonathan Trott (67), pouched at long-off. He caught Graeme Swann off his own bowling. This time his two wickets cost 49 runs. He put on a crucial 82 runs with Tamim Iqbal for the fourth wicket in 17.2 overs. Shakib’s 32 came off 58 deliveries, having hit just one boundary. Bangladesh lost eight wickets for 169. A resilient unbroken 58-run partnership between Mahmudullah (21 not out) and Shafiul Islam (24 not out) carried them to a nail-biting victory.
As expected, Holland did not provide much resistance. Their cause was not helped by four run outs, Shakib having a hand in two of them. He also claimed the first wicket, trapping Wesley Barresi leg-before, giving away 38 runs in 8 overs. Holland could total only 160. Bangladesh won by six wickets but Shakib was dismissed for 1.
Their last group match was a disaster. South Africa knocked up 284 for eight. Shakib deceived Jacques Kallis with a straighter one and had him caught and bowled. He had Morne van Wyk playing on to another that went on straight, and didn‘t bounce much. Shakib gave away 46 runs. Bangladesh faced the ignominy of being bowled out for under 100 for the second time in the tournament. Shakib was the only one to get into double figures, scoring a resolute, lonely 30 with four boundaries. Bangladesh could muster only 78 runs in 28 overs.
There was not much memorable for Shakib in this World Cup. A half-century and 8 wickets at 27.87 apiece provided some solace, besides the close win over England.
It was an easy opening fixture with Afghanistan in 2015. Shakib featured in a partnership of 114 runs for the fifth wicket in 15.3 overs with Mushfiqur Rahim. They kept the scoreboard ticking. Shakib brought up his fifty from 43 balls. After a few aggressive strikes he was bowled, his 63 coming off 51 deliveries studded with a six and 6 fours. Mushfiqur went on to score 71 (56 balls, 1 six, 6 fours). Bangladesh were bowled out for 267 off the last ball of the 50th over. Three early wickets set the Afghans back, and though the middle-order battled, the task was overwhelming. Shakib trapped Najibullah Zadran leg-before and had Mirwais Ashraf caught at long-off. Afghanistan folded up for 162. Shakib conceded 43 runs in 8.5 overs.
The match against Australia was washed out. With the top three Sri Lankan batsmen in tremendous form, they hoisted 332 for one. Shakib was wicketless, conceding 55 runs in his 10 overs. Bangladesh were never in the game thereafter, though Shakib and Mushfiqur got together once again in a 64-run stand in 11.1 overs for the sixth wicket. Shakib was caught at long-on for 46, having faced 59 balls and hit a six and 4 fours. Mushfiqur was out for 36. Bangladesh were dismissed for 240.
Kyle Coetzer’s brilliant 156 off 134 deliveries, the highest score by a batsman from an associate member country, carried Scotland to 318 for eight. Opening the bowling, Shakib took the last wicket to fall off the final ball of the innings, having Majid Haq brilliantly caught by Soumya Sarkar at square-leg. He expended 46 runs in his 10 overs. Bangladesh had a fight on their hands, and had to draw on all their resources. Though Sarkar fell early, Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah put on 139 for the second wicket. Shakib joined Mushfiqur at 201 for three after 31.3 overs. They added 46 in 6.3 overs. Mushfiqur scored 60 (42 balls, 2 sixes, 6 fours). Once Sabbir Rahman came in there was no looking back. Shakib brought up victory as well as his fifty with a slash above third-man, with 11 balls to spare. This was Bangladesh’s highest chase. Shakib returned with 52 to his name, having faced 51 deliveries, hitting 5 boundaries besides the six. Sabbir was unbeaten with 42 (40 balls, 2 sixes, 4 fours). Rare for one finishing on the losing side, Coetzer deservedly won the man-of-the-match award.
Some fine performances by the Bangladesh
players helped beat England in an exciting game. A century by Mahmudullah and
his fifth-wicket partnership of 141 runs with Mushfiqur (89) piloted Bangladesh
to 275 for seven. Rubel Hossain with four for 53 spearheaded the attack, dismissing
England for 260 with 9 deliveries still left. It was not a fruitful outing,
though, for Shakib, being dismissed for 2 and returning sans a wicket.
Courtesy another fine hundred by Mahmudullah,
Bangladesh put up 288 for seven. Shakib was dismissed for a breezy 23 off 18
deliveries. He took the new ball, and had Brendon McCullum caught at long-off.
Soon he took another huge wicket, having Kane Williamson taken in the covers.
New Zealand were struggling at 33 for two. Martin Guptill knocked up a century,
and his partnership of 131 runs for the third wicket with Ross Taylor put New
Zealand on course. Shakib had Guptill snapped up at long-on but the Kiwis
inched ahead with some useful stands. Shakib induced Luke Ronchi to hit into
the hands of cover. The lower-order managed to carry New Zealand over the line
with three wickets in hand and 7 balls to spare. Shakib finished with four for
55 in 8.5 overs, his best figures to date in the World Cup, and the first time
he had bagged more than two wickets in an innings in the premier event.
India were too strong in the quarter-final as
they hit up 302 for six. Shakib had opener Shikhar Dhawan stumped, conceding 58
runs in his 10 overs. Bangladesh were bowled out for 193; Shakib being
dismissed for 10.
Scoring 196 runs in 6 matches at an average of 39.20 and strike-rate of 93.77, Shakib made valuable contributions with the bat. Half of his 8 wickets came in one innings, the average and economy-rate being a bit high at 37.25 and 5.16 respectively.
Shakib was in top form with the bat in 2019, and also bagged his highest number of wickets in any of the four World Cup tournaments. Now batting at no. 3, it gave him ample opportunities to score. Bangladesh were off to a flying start in the opening face-off with South Africa. Shakib came in when the openers had raised 60. Mushfiqur joined him at 75 after 11.4 overs. They put on 142 runs in 23.3 overs, Bangladesh’s highest in the World Cup. Their previous best was 141 for the fifth-wicket between Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim against England in 2015. Shakib brought up his fifty off 54 balls. The hundred partnership was raised in 15.5 overs. They kept the scoreboard ticking without any heroics. Trying to sweep, Shakib was bowled by Imran Tahir. His 75 came off 84 deliveries embellished with a six and 8 fours. Mushfiqur scored 78 (80 balls, 8 fours). Bangladesh went on to total 330 for six, their highest in One-day Internationals. All the Proteas top-order got good starts but none could play a really big innings. Shakib bowled opener Aiden Markram. He achieved the double of 5000 runs and 250 wickets in One-day Internationals, by far the quickest in 199 matches. South Africa could only advance as far as 309 for eight. Shakib finished with one for 50 in 10 overs. It was a fine win for Bangladesh; Shakib was man-of-the-match.
After another useful stand by the openers, Shakib again sparkled with the willow against New Zealand. This time he put on 50 with Mushfiqur in 10.3 overs. Shakib’s half-century was raised in 54 deliveries once again. Shakib was caught behind off Colin de Grandhomme attempting to cut. His 64 had spanned 68 deliveries, and he struck 7 boundaries. Bangladesh posted 244. Shakib cut short the innings of both the Kiwi openers. He had Guptill pouched at long-on, and Colin Munro taken at mid-wicket. New Zealand’s reply was centred around a century partnership between Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, but they lost wickets regularly. For the second time in successive tournaments New Zealand scrambled home, losing eight wickets on this occasion and having played out 47.1 overs. Shakib’s return was two for 47.
England seemed to be seeking retribution for 2015, piling up 386 for six. Again opening the bowling, Shakib was unable to take a wicket, giving away 71 runs. With the bat he was in superb touch. After a 55-run stand with Tamim Iqbal, his comrade-in-arms once again was Mushfiqur. This time the duo added 106 runs for the third wicket in 17 overs. Shakib reached his half-century off 53 deliveries. Finding the boundary regularly, he raised his century in 95 balls. Another partnership of 49 runs in 10 overs with Mahmudullah followed. With the asking-rate hopelessly out of control, having gone beyond the 15 runs an over mark, Shakib decided to up the ante. The task, though, was too great. Ben Stokes yorked him in the next over. His superb knock of 121, carved from 119 deliveries, was embellished with a six and 12 fours. Bangladesh were ultimately bowled out for 280.
The fixture with Sri Lanka was washed out. Led by Shakib, the Bangladesh batting was brilliant in the high-scoring game versus the West Indies. Batting first, the Caribbean line-up hoisted 321 for eight. Shakib broke the second-wicket century stand between Evin Lewis and Shai Hope, getting the former to hole out at long-off. He nipped Nicholas Pooran’s innings in the bud, having him caught at long-on. These two wickets cost Shakib 54 runs in 8 overs. He came in to bat after a half-century stand by the openers. He added 69 with Tamim Iqbal. For a change, Mushfiqur fell early. Then followed a superb match-winning stand with Liton Das. Shakib’s half-century came off 40 deliveries. The hundred partnership was raised in 13.4 overs. A lovely cover-drive brought Shakib his hundred off just 83 deliveries, a brilliant successive ton. With Das matching Shakib stroke for stroke, they ushered in a stirring seven-wicket victory with 8.3 overs to spare, the unbroken stand yielding 189 runs in 22.3 overs. Shakib’s magnificent 124 had occupied only 99 deliveries, punctuated by 16 boundaries. Das blasted 94 off a mere 69 balls, crashing 4 sixes and 8 fours. Bangladesh equalled their highest score in the World Cup. They had scored 322 for four against Scotland in 2015. Shakib reached 6,000 runs in One-day Internationals, the fastest to achieve the double of 6,000 runs and 200 wickets. One more man-of-the-match prize was in his bag.
In another run-spree, Australia logged up 381 for five. Shakib’s analysis was 6-0-50-0. After an early wicket, Shakib and Tamim put on 79 runs in 14.2 overs. Shakib scored a-run-a-ball 41 with four hits to the fence. Despite Mushfiqur’s unbeaten century and his 127-run fifth-wicket stand in 16.1 overs with Mahmudullah, to overhaul the huge Aussie score was an impossible task. Bangladesh, though, put up 333 for eight, their highest score in the World Cup, surpassing their 322 for three in the previous match, and 322 for four against Scotland in 2015.
Shakib was more than a handful for the Afghans. He put on 59 in 12.4 overs for the second wicket with Tamim Iqbal, and 61 in 12.2 overs for the third wicket with Mushfiqur. Shakib got to his half-century off 66 balls. He was trapped leg-before by Mujeeb Ur Rahman for 51, having faced 69 balls and struck just one boundary. Mushfiqur went on to score 83 (87 balls, 1 six, 4 fours), as Bangladesh totalled 262 for seven. Shakib kept striking regularly with the ball, sweeping away the top of the Afghanistan batting. He had Rahmat Shah caught on the pull, and got the captain Gulbadin Naib pouched in the covers. Mohammad Nabi played on to him for a duck. Asghar Afghan tried to sweep him but ended up offering a simple catch. Najibullah Zadran charged him, missed and was stumped by Mushfiqur. Shakib snared five wickets for 29 runs in his 10 overs, as Afghanistan were bowled out for 200. There was no other claimant for the man-of-the-match award.
The star allrounder became the second player to score a fifty and bag a five-wicket haul in a World Cup match. In the 2011 World Cup Yuvraj Singh had captured 5 wickets for 31 runs and hit an unbeaten 50 against Ireland. It was the first time that Shakib achieved this feat in his ODI career. Shakib also became the third player to score a century and pick up a five-wicket haul in a World Cup, as also in the World Cup as a whole. Kapil Dev achieved it in 1983, and Yuvraj Singh in 2011. Both Kapil Dev and Yuvraj Singh were part of World Cups winning teams in 1983 and 2011. Shakib had scored 121 and an unbeaten 124 earlier in this 2019 World Cup. He became the first Bangladesh bowler to bag a five-wicket haul in the World Cup. The previous best bowling analysis for Bangladesh was Shafiul Islam's 4 for 21 against Ireland in 2011. This was Shakib's second five-wicket haul in One-day Internationals.
Bangladesh battled hard but just fell short against India. Built on a huge foundation of a 180-run opening stand, India hoisted 314 for nine. Shakib had Rishabh Pant caught at square-leg, giving away 41 runs. Most of the Bangladesh top-order fell after playing cameos. Several of Shakib’s partnerships too were cut short when looking promising. He raised his fifty from 58 balls. He was caught in the covers for 66 with the aid of six boundaries, having faced 74 balls. The later batsmen battled hard, but Bangladesh were bowled out for 286 with two overs remaining.
A huge second-wicket partnership enabled Pakistan to log up 315 for nine. Shakib was unable to take a wicket, giving away 57 runs. Once again none of his partners was able to put up a big score. Liton Das stayed long enough to forge a 58-run stand in 10.5 overs for the fourth wicket. Shakib reached his half-century in 62 deliveries. He was finally dismissed caught behind trying to square-cut. His 64 came off 77 balls, having struck six boundaries. Bangladesh wound up at 221. They bowed out of the tournament finishing eighth in the ten-team league.
Shakib had a tremendous World Cup with scores of 75, 64, 121, 124 not out, 41, 51, 66 and 64; 606 runs in 8 matches at an average of 86.57 and strike-rate of 96.03, two centuries, five fifties and a 41, a five-wicket haul and three man-of-the-match awards. He took 11 wickets at 36.27 apiece and an economy-rate of 5.39. Shakib achieved the distinction of being the first to score 600 runs and take 10 wickets in a single World Cup. He was delighted with his performance, “From the first match, I had a feeling that something good will happen. I scored well in all opening matches in the previous World Cups but I could not continue doing that. So I had to push myself to not lose the momentum after gaining it. I was not surprised because I knew what I had in my mind. It's just that what happened is the best that I thought could have happened for me.”
Going from strength to strength Shakib has, till the 2019 World Cup, 1146 runs in 29 matches at an average of 45.84 and strike-rate of 82.26. His 34 wickets have come at 35.94 apiece and 5.11 runs an over. He became the first player in World Cup history to aggregate 1000 runs and bag 30 wickets, doubtlessly one of the top allrounders in the premier event.
(Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s forthcoming book ‘World Cup Odyssey’).
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