Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto on Sunday threw his weight behind the struggling Shakib Al Hasan and said the country’s greatest all-rounder is doing everything in his capacity to regain his form with the ball. In the opening match against India at Chepauk, which Bangladesh lost by a huge margin of 280 runs, the 37-year-old Shakib logged his most expensive bowling figures in his Test career, leaking 129 runs in 21 overs while failing to take a single wicket across two innings. It was the fifth time in his career that he went wicketless in a Test match after bowling at least 20 overs.
“Very brave question. Masha Allah!” the Bangladesh skipper responded when asked about a struggling Shakib’s place in the Test team.
“As a captain, honestly, I look at how much hard work a player is putting into his game.
He (Shakib) is doing everything possible to get his form back,” Shanto told reporters at the post-match press conference.
“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,” he said.
“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,” the skipper added.
Shanto justified his decision to not bowl Shakib enough in the first innings as the pacers were doing their job well.
“I didn’t really need him (Shakib) in the first innings, seeing how the three pace bowlers were doing. Miraz too was bowling well. It was my plan to keep the fast bowlers on for longer. We took six wickets quickly too,” he said.
