Bangladesh Captain Confident Shakib Al Hasan Will Excel Against Pakistan Despite Inclusion Protests
Bangladesh Captain Confident Shakib Al Hasan Will Perform Well Against Pakistan Despite Protests
Bangladesh’s cricket captain expressed confidence on Tuesday that star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will deliver strong performances in the upcoming Test series against Pakistan, despite protests surrounding his inclusion.
Shakib, 37, was part of the dissolved Bangladesh parliament led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted at the start of the month amid widespread protests. Despite the political turmoil, the interim government granted Shakib permission to participate in the two-Test series, with the first match starting on Wednesday.
At a press conference, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto dismissed concerns that Shakib’s political background would affect his performance. “He has played this game for so long; he knows his role and how to prepare himself. I am not thinking about his political career,” Shanto said.
When asked about the potential impact of the political situation on Shakib’s play, Shanto responded, “I don’t think so because he is a professional cricketer. We all see him as a cricketer, to be honest. I hope he will do something special in this series.”
Shakib is a key figure for Bangladesh, boasting 4,505 runs and 237 wickets in 67 Tests, making him the leading Test bowler for Bangladesh.
Protests erupted in Dhaka over Shakib’s inclusion, with criticism from former Bangladesh Cricket Board member Rafiqul Islam, who condemned Shakib’s silence during the protests. Shakib joined the squad in Pakistan last week after participating in the Global T20 League in Canada, where he also faced public dissent.
The unrest in Dhaka had disrupted the team’s practice sessions. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board allowed the team to arrive four days early to compensate for their lack of preparation.
Shanto is optimistic about improving Bangladesh’s poor Test record against Pakistan, having lost 12 of their last 13 encounters, with only one draw. “We have a balanced side, and I hope we play some good cricket,” Shanto said. “I think the record can be changed; it’s not easy, but we believe we can achieve something special.”
The Rawalpindi Test faces potential disruption from bad weather, with rain predicted for all five days. The second Test is scheduled to take place at the same venue on August 30.
