Is there any scope to honour someone else other than Shakib Al Hasan as Sportsman of the Year? The answer is a resounding 'No'. The 22-year-old Magura lad was head and shoulders above everybody in the country in 2009; a world-beater indeed. And it's for the second successive year that the ever-smiling but unwavering young man made the headlines on numerous occasions to bring joy to the faces of the success-starved sports lovers of the country. If Shakib made known his arrival as a new cricket star in 2008 then his success stories in the just past year gave a clear indication that he is not here to live with the past success only.

It had been a remarkable year for Shakib

and his story is all the more special given that it has happened less than four years into his international career. And he had achieved something which none could even dream about in the country before and to some extent he has opened new windows for the cricketers in the country.

Not only has he captained Bangladesh to successes at home but also to unprecedented victories in Zimbabwe and West Indies. He also cemented his position as the world's best ODI all-rounder and was named by Wisden Cricketer magazine as their Player of the Year 2009. Besides he became the first ever Bangladeshi to sign for a county cricket club — Worcestershire to establish himself as Bangladesh's first global star. (Don't forget he is also the 'most

eligible bachelor').

The game's governing body inexplicably ignored him otherwise he might have been an ICC award winner also.

But he was still a champion and it will not be exaggerated if someone says that 2009 was Shakib Al Hasan'syear.

Why is he so different from his other colleagues? The answer is: consistency as a performer against any opposition, home and away and the toughness in his character, be it on or off the field. The world cricket lovers have already noticed the young man's on field toughness, even as a stand-in captain.

Shakib's performance chart spiked during the historic tour to the West Indies. The young man had to take the

responsibility of leading the team in the Caribbean after Mashrafe Bin Mortaza had injured his knee during the first Test, and he grabbed the opportunity with both hands. It's not so common in the country that someone gets an opportunity and takes it in positive stride. Shakib showed rare quality of leadership albeit against weakened opponents in response to the sudden added responsibility. It was true for Shakib as said: a leader should lead his team from the front.

An unprecedented success marked the year for Bangladesh cricket as the Tigers won two Tests out of three and won 14 GDIs out of 19 and a major part of the credit must go to the southpaw batsman cum spinner.

But Shakib was a team man and he

always distributed credit for his success among his teammates as he said (after winning the Wisden Cricketer magazine award): "As a team, this award will only take us forward. 1 never thought that I would receive such lofty recognition. But this is a reminder of what hard work gets for you. Hopefully this will inspire my teammates, including myself, to work even harder for the development of Bangladesh cricket."

And after all that success the obvious question was what is next?There had a reply only the champion can say it and set it.

"I don’t know because I have never been set any target but I would be happy if I could achieve the 40 average both in one-day and Test.”

If this is Shakib Al Hasan's vision, then the golden summer of his life may continue.

However, amidst all of this, Shakib's strongest quality that shines through is his ability to put things in perspective.

"Things are good today, but they can just be as bad tomorrow. Therefore I try not to get carried away (with awards]. And I think neither do my teammates. Collectively, at the moment, we are just concentrating on improving."

In the most successful Year, Shakib also experienced howthe other part of the World is for a sportsman after his club Abahani dethroned by Mohammedan in the Premier League in the fag end of theYear.

So, in the end it's an all-inclusive journey for the Sportsman of theYear.