Shakib Al Hasan – I feel whoever will be in the team they will be representing 17 Crores People
Shakib Al Hasan, an all-rounder for Bangladesh, feels that there are some individuals lined up to take the number seven spot in ODIs ahead of the World Cup, which will begin in India in October while Shakib feels that the selectors have a lot of problems as a result of the fierce competition, particularly for number seven spot.
Shakib Al Hasan, an all-rounder for Bangladesh, feels that there are a number of individuals lined up to take the number seven spot in ODIs ahead of the World Cup, which will begin in India in October.
Since the home series against Ireland in May, Bangladesh has been playing Mehedy Hasan at number seven in the 50-over format, and the team management appears to be keen in giving him the finisher position.
Afif and Mahmudullah, who were unable to keep their spots in ODIs, had been often discussed as leading candidates to take the position. However, the team management also carried Yasir Ali to England for the just concluded three-match series against Ireland, although he was not included in the playing XI.
In the recent past, Bangladesh’s ODI captain Tamim Iqbal had spoken about a few spots being up for grabs and the number slot is one of them. Shakib feels that the selectors have a lot of problems as a result of the fierce competition, particularly for number seven spot.
“I am neither the selector nor part of decision making so it is difficult for me to say but I am happy with the team and I feel whoever will be in the team they will be representing 17 Crores people and will try to give the best,”
Shakib told reporters on Monday (May15) in England while attending a private program.
“From personal point of view the competition is not only about one guy there are many guys for it (number seven position). Everyone is performing there and if you see domestic cricket there is Afif (Hossain), Mossadek (Hossain), and Sohan (Nurul) while Riyad (Mahmudullah) Bhai is playing brilliantly. There is Rabbi with the team while Miraj is batting at seven,”
he said.
“So there are six to seven options for one place and so the decision is not easy to make. I am sure keeping the World Cup into mind the coach, selector and captain will take the right decision,”
he said.
In the past, Bangladesh has attempted a number of players for the finisher’s role with no real success. Mehidy has gotten off to a respectable start at position seven. The all-rounder has played five innings and has a strike rate of 92, averaging 37.
While the numbers, especially the strike-rate, can improve further, Mehidy has certainly shown the spunk needed for the task. With 12 innings under his belt, Afif Hossain received the longest rope among the others, although his strike rate of 74 was much lower than what is considered acceptable in modern-day cricket. The likes of Yasir Ali and Nurul Hasan featured just for the odd game or two.
Shakib hoped that the spot would be secured before the Asia Cup and emphasized the significance of supporting the management’s choice and the selected player regardless of the results. Bangladesh is scheduled to play three one-day internationals (ODIs) against Afghanistan before the Asia Cup, but the team management has to address the number seven position as soon as possible.
“Now we are in the primary stage and whatever wrong or right we are doing I think everything will be all right from the World Cup or the Asia Cup. We don’t have too many international matches and I am certain that the coaches and the captain are recognizing in which areas we need to do well to earn better result. I am sure no leader of a team or a nation wants badly for his team. They don’t have bad intentions it can be right or wrong,”
said Shakib.
“Basically we talk after the result and at that point, it looks like a wrong decision. The decision is taken before the result. I am sure the selector’s coach and decision makers will think good for the team,”
he said.
“We will have our right combination when we go to the World Cup and it will depend on opposition and condition. In some grounds four pacers might play while there will grounds where you will have to pace bowler. In some field you need six bowlers while in some places we will need five bowlers. When the decision is taken you have to take lot of things into consideration. Now we are just having trials,”
he said adding that they need to make sure they don’t repeat similar mistakes that prevented them from going far in the previous World Cup.
“The condition is always fair in ICC tournament and it is even for every team. We have to do well in all the departments if we want to do well. In the last World Cup we had a good chance but couldn’t capitalize on it due to some small mistakes. We must make sure that we don’t repeat those mistakes. Certainly, other teams are improving in their respective areas but we have to improve if we want to compete with them,”
he concluded.