Shakib Al Hasan must be enjoying cricket these days, that is,
top-quality cricket against A-class opposition. It presents him with a
different challenge every game in a variety of situations one of which
is coming up today in Bangladesh's second game in the Asia Cup against
India.
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| sakib al hasan |
After a valiant half-century against Pakistan, it is now
clear that Shakib has to do it all on his own. Be it rescuing the team
from a top-order collapse, nurturing a good start from the top-order, or
shepherding the lower-order in chase, it has to be Shakib at the other
end these days. With the ball in hand, Shakib comes on first-change to
get the team a breakthrough. He's also the partnership-breaker,
Powerplay bowler and slog stopper. He is both the team's stock bowler
and its shock bowler.
Against Mahendra Singh Dhoni's India, Shakib
can expect a true test of his bowling skills, much of which will have
to come to his rescue to stop an onslaught or break a long partnership.
His batting though should thrive against a low-pace attack that will use
only one quality spinner. With the quality of the wicket at the
Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium during this tournament, another important
innings with the bat and an indispensable display with the ball can be
expected.
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| sakib & Nafis |
Among the top teams, Shakib averages the highest against
India (36.42 in seven innings) with four fifties -- slightly better
than his overall batting average.
Watching Shakib often reminds
one of a statement made by Graham Gooch many moons ago about the great
New Zealand all-rounder Richard Hadlee. Twenty-five years ago, the
former England captain had remarked that playing against New Zealand in
those days was "like the World XI at one end, and Ilford Second XI at
the other". The Bangladesh bowlers may complain with the parallel drawn
here but worryingly, the batsmen increasingly look too dependent on
Shakib.
Teammates of world-class all-rounders from the yesteryears
have often commented that they feed off the confidence of greats like
Hadlee, Imran Khan or Kapil Dev; it doesn't make the other players of
any lesser class but some folks are made of a different fabric.
The
first time Shakib played against India was during the Port-of-Spain win
during the 2007 World Cup. He went wicketless that day but hit an
underrated half-century. Since Shakib bowls during every crucial
juncture, it is certain that he won't go wicketless; a similar batting
performance would either take Bangladesh close to a win or upset the
apple-cart once again.
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