Shakib vows to lead Tigers perfectly

‘There are many performers in the team now’

Shakib Al Hasan’s appointment as the Test captain of Bangladesh was of no surprise, specially after he was chosen to lead the side in T20 format following the retirement of Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. And the thing is all but sure that he will gradually lead the side in all three formats in the coming days, something which was well indicated by the BCB President Nazmul Hassan Papon.

The captaincy job is not new one for the No. 1 all-rounder, but his first tenure as the captain of Bangladesh wasn’t smooth one. With Mashrafe tasting perpetual injury, Ashraful losing his aura, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad trying to set their feet in the big stage, Shakib Al Hasan was the only man to hold his side together. He had already achieved the status of No.1 all-rounder by then, a feat that was beyond imagination for any Bangladeshi players till then. It was one-man show indeed. Shakib’s performance was up to the mark, in batting and bowling wise but the success eluded with others can’t complement his effort. But still he was stripped off from the captaincy and it was believed the difference in opinion with the then board president AHM Mustafa Kamal led Shakib’s  removal from the captaincy.

Publicly the reasons was Bangladesh’s disastrous tour in Zimbabwe in 2011 in which Bangladesh lost the Test to the Eastern African nation who then returned to the longer version after six years self-exile. When he was removed from the captaincy, Shakib had already led Bangladesh in nine Tests, winning one in contrast of losing eight Tests. In 18 innings of the nine Tests, he made 650 runs with one century and took 39 wickets with the best of five for 62.

The first part of captaincy however wasn’t something that ended happily. While this was the case, the question came to the fore-- how the second part of his leadership will be!

As has been the case always, Shakib chose to be optimistic and realistic in his approach. Like his batting, the answer was always straightforward and with uncluttered mind.

“Now the task should be easier, because there are many performers now. If the players play to their potential, the task of the captain becomes easier,” Shakib said in his immediate reaction after regaining the Test captaincy job.

“I never expect something but I never give up the hopes as far as the cricket is concerned. If you indicate the captaincy job, I don’t think about it much. It is given, so it is good. If it is not given, I would have not any complain.”

“The leadership of the national team is a responsibility. So I must try to do my job perfectly.”

Even though Mushfiqur Rahim’s captaincy style was criticised more often than not, he was the most successful captain of Bangladesh with seven wins, out of Bangladesh 10 wins in the Test history. Under Mushfiqur Rahim, most of the Bangladesh’s victory came at home soil, but Bangladesh continued faring badly at the overseas tour.

Shakib is given the captaincy at such a moment when Bangladesh will play most Test matches in abroad. This is a huge challenge for a captain to motivate his side playing perfect cricket in overseas tour.

“Every tour or series is tough, may it be at home or abroad. At home we might feel comfortable and we have some discomfort in abroad because we haven’t have such success in foreign soil,” Shakib said.

“But it is also an opportunity to do well in abroad. Somebody has to start the process. So as a captain, it is a chance for mine.”

Shakib also looked happy to get Mahmudullah as his deputy as he said, “We have some leaders in the team and on the field we took decision by discussing amongst us. Riyad has been doing well as captain in the BPL for quite some time now. His experience and advice will be valuable for me.”

While Shakib was spontaneous in replying all those above questions, he also tried to avoid some.

As BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon said, the decision of Chandika Hathurusingha to step down from the coaching of Bangladesh was straightway related to Shakib’s six months leave from the Test cricket, Shakib chose to remain silent on this issue.

“It’s his personal opinion. I should not comment on this.”

And as he is appointed as the captain of Test team, will he stick with his six months leave from the Test cricket? Shakib also sidestepped the question saying, “Let’s see what happened.”

As he regained the captaincy after six years, the question also raised whether he saw any reason as to why he was chosen again. He said, “You people could tell it well.”

Shakib vows to lead Tigers perfectly

There are many performers in the team now

Shakib Al Hasans appointment as the Test captain of Bangladesh was of no surprise, specially after he was chosen to lead the side in T20 format following the retirement of Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. And the thing is all but sure that he will gradually lead the side in all three formats in the coming days, something which was well indicated by the BCB President Nazmul Hassan Papon. The captaincy job is not new one for the No. 1 all-rounder, but his first tenure as the captain of Bangladesh wasnt smooth one. With Mashrafe tasting perpetual injury, Ashraful losing his aura, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad trying to set their feet in the big stage, Shakib Al Hasan was the only man to hold his side together. He had already achieved the status of No.1 all-rounder by then, a feat that was beyond imagination for any Bangladeshi players till then. It was one-man show indeed. Shakibs performance was up to the mark, in batting and bowling wise but the success eluded with others cant complement his effort. But still he was stripped off from the captaincy and it was believed the difference in opinion with the then board president AHM Mustafa Kamal led Shakibs removal from the captaincy. Publicly the reasons was Bangladeshs disastrous tour in Zimbabwe in 2011 in which Bangladesh lost the Test to the Eastern African nation who then returned to the longer version after six years self-exile. When he was removed from the captaincy, Shakib had already led Bangladesh in nine Tests, winning one in contrast of losing eight Tests. In 18 innings of the nine Tests, he made 650 runs with one century and took 39 wickets with the best of five for 62. The first part of captaincy however wasnt something that ended happily. While this was the case, the question came to the fore-- how the second part of his leadership will be! As has been the case always, Shakib chose to be optimistic and realistic in his approach. Like his batting, the answer was always straightforward and with uncluttered mind. Now the task should be easier, because there are many performers now. If the players play to their potential, the task of the captain becomes easier, Shakib said in his immediate reaction after regaining the Test captaincy job. I never expect something but I never give up the hopes as far as the cricket is concerned. If you indicate the captaincy job, I dont think about it much. It is given, so it is good. If it is not given, I would have not any complain. The leadership of the national team is a responsibility. So I must try to do my job perfectly. Even though Mushfiqur Rahims captaincy style was criticised more often than not, he was the most successful captain of Bangladesh with seven wins, out of Bangladesh 10 wins in the Test history. Under Mushfiqur Rahim, most of the Bangladeshs victory came at home soil, but Bangladesh continued faring badly at the overseas tour. Shakib is given the captaincy at such a moment when Bangladesh will play most Test matches in abroad. This is a huge challenge for a captain to motivate his side playing perfect cricket in overseas tour. Every tour or series is tough, may it be at home or abroad. At home we might feel comfortable and we have some discomfort in abroad because we havent have such success in foreign soil, Shakib said. But it is also an opportunity to do well in abroad. Somebody has to start the process. So as a captain, it is a chance for mine. Shakib also looked happy to get Mahmudullah as his deputy as he said, We have some leaders in the team and on the field we took decision by discussing amongst us. Riyad has been doing well as captain in the BPL for quite some time now. His experience and advice will be valuable for me. While Shakib was spontaneous in replying all those above questions, he also tried to avoid some. As BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon said, the decision of Chandika Hathurusingha to step down from the coaching of Bangladesh was straightway related to Shakibs six months leave from the Test cricket, Shakib chose to remain silent on this issue. Its his personal opinion. I should not comment on this. And as he is appointed as the captain of Test team, will he stick with his six months leave from the Test cricket? Shakib also sidestepped the question saying, Lets see what happened. As he regained the captaincy after six years, the question also raised whether he saw any reason as to why he was chosen again. He said, You people could tell it well.