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Daredevil Shakib leaves grey areas in WC ‘farewell’
ABDULLAH AL MEHDI
Bangladesh’s most decorated cricketer Shakib Al Hasan may have just played his last-ever World Cup game in cricket’s most-celebrated format. Shakib’s possible end to competing in cricket’s biggest event and how it ended, will however portray him as both a villain and a hero, much like throughout his career where he often courted controversy. He had played through pain in his final outing this World Cup and even as it ended with a flourish, there will also be disappointment.
The Bangladesh skipper fell prey to injury while batting against Sri Lanka on Monday and has been ruled out of the game against Australia, Bangladesh’s final assignment in this World Cup.
Just as the 36-year-old had competed throughout his career, the end was certainly a bit crazy. Everything was a bit silly when he came out to bat in the seventh over with retribution in Sri Lanka players’ minds effected by Angelo Matthews’ Timed Out dismissal. Soon, having gotten a few runs under his belt, he heard something crack in his hand. Knowing that it was a finger injury that would eventually rule him out of the next game, he decided to tell his batting partner and the physio that he would keep going. His 65-ball 82 significantly improved Bangladesh’s chances of making the ICC Champions Trophy as the Tigers leapfrogged Sri Lanka to seventh position with a better run-rate.
The fire in his belly was once more in view too as Shakib said in post-match presentation that a riled-up Matthews and Sri Lanka helped to fire him up as well. The Matthews conundrum and how it played out in essence is what Shakib brings to the wider cricketing world. A daredevil act, for no-one in 146 years of international had triggered such a dismissal.
It required brevity but Shakib is not one to dwell on repercussions. He felt there was an advantage to be taken and he took it, no questions asked. While the cricket world will be debating the Matthews dismissal for some time, Shakib will not be paying heed. An introvert who makes extravagant remarks when he feels the need to, Shakib’s desperation to win was there for all to see.
Shakib was criticised when Tamim Iqbal did not want to be part of the World Cup squad; criticised when amidst high expectations back home, Bangladesh’s performance remained pretty dismal with batting-order going through frequent changes. Yet, he courted further controversy by leaving the team to work on his batting with his childhood mentor, Nazmul Abedeen Fahim.
Possibly well aware that it was his last ODI World Cup, Shakib had been desperate. The way he batted on Monday was mesmerising, overcoming many deficiencies he faced during the tournament.
The wider cricketing world also knows about Bangladesh somewhat through Shakib’s terrific achievements. In fact, he made his career through the ODI format, scoring 7570 runs and taking 317 wickets. But, as Bangladesh’s most significant cricketing talent, the end also appears not quite fitting, both individually and around team’s successes.
Bangladesh had a lot of expectations ahead of the World Cup but under Shakib’s leadership, those did not materialise even though results had not gone preceding the marquee event either. His frequent trips abroad to inaugurate show-rooms or attend events also bring into question his preparation for the World Cup.
Despite his struggles, Shakib is still the Tigers’ third-highest run-getter and second-highest wicket-taker in this World Cup, ahead of the last game. Yet, not playing the Australia game would hurt him as will not being able to reach the stratospheric feats he achieved in 2019 edition of the World Cup. Having possibly played his last World Cup game in ODI format, Shakib’s end on a personal level maybe satisfactory but for Bangladesh as a team, nothing materialised. He had suggested in an interview before the World Cup that he would not captain the side even for a day after the World Cup. He captained reluctantly, gave what he could but from Bangladesh’s context, a lot more was desired.
“Not a harmless figure, he likes to compete and will always be there to do that,” Shakib’s mentor Fahim said. “Bangladesh’s performances were not easy to recover from and Shakib had said that but he will get the credit for his final outing.”
The smirk on Shakib’s face during the Matthews incident would remind the wider cricketing world of his essence, of not giving any quarters. But daredevil acts such as those also bear aloft Shakib wherever one wants to see him on a moral compass.