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’).
