WT20 loss against India still hurts Shakib
KOLKATA (INDIA): Shakib al Hasan is Bangladeshs biggest cricketing star alongside Mashrafe Mortaza. While Bangladesh captains leadership abilities stood out in tough times in the ICC World Twenty20 in India earlier this year, Shakibs all-round show helped the team come up with a much-improved performance, according to Cricbuzz.
However, their efforts were overshadowed by the one-run loss against India that proved to be the decisive knockout blow.
Its hard to tell if Shakib was expecting a question on the loss when he sat down for a chat with Cricbuzz at the team hotel in Kolkata, but when the question did arrive, he wasnt surprised. Yes, it still hurts, he says.
His reaction, though very subdued, reveals it was a bitter pill to swallow. Shakib takes a moment to think about what he wants to speak and then says: I dont think we, as a team or as a nation, can forget that game ever. I hope that some day, we play a match like that against India and win it so that we can forget that game. But, it still keeps coming back.
Its difficult to explain what happened. Chasing is always difficult and tension played a big role, he starts. Those who are good at chasing, they always plan well. We cant just keep focusing on the scoreboard because it builds additional pressure.
We should have approached it the same way we would have while batting first. I feel thats the better plan. Yes, the target and the overs reaming are always there at the back of the mind. Once you get into a good position, then you can adjust and time the chase well. We didnt do that.
Hes now keen on focusing on the Indian Premier League. The game against Sunrisers Hyderabad first.
The all-rounder has now been part of the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise for six years. He has repaid the faith with both runs and wickets - 490 runs at a strike rate of 132.07 to go with his 42 wickets in the 41 games he has played so far. And Shakib believes its the IPL that helped him improve as a cricketer.
It has been great, he gushes talking about the journey with the Knight Riders. It has been six years - I missed a few games due to international duty. Ive enjoyed being part of this franchise. This opportunity came to me at a crucial time. This was needed. IPL, and playing for Kolkata, has helped me improve as a cricketer.
The support staff has always been very helpful. Not just for me, but for everyone in the side. Whenever we need anything, they try to provide us with it. If you look at the support staff we have, there is Wasim Akram, Jacques Kallis, Simon Katich, Mark Boucher. They are all legends of the game. So obviously, you expect the best from them.
Kolkata have reached a stage in their campaign where they need to win the last game - against Hyderabad - to ensure a spot in the play-offs. Its now going to be test of their abilities and, more importantly, their temperament. In the last edition as well they needed one win, with two games remaining, to qualify for the play-offs. They ended up losing both and were knocked out.
One of the threats standing between them and the play-offs berth is Mustafizur Rahman. Shakib, being his teammate, can reveal his secrets to counter the pacers variations.
However, the all-rounder has a different take on that. We dont have any plans as such but well discuss about him in the team meeting, he says with a cheeky grin. I obviously wont reveal all his secrets. Ultimately he represents Bangladesh and I want him to keep doing well for the country. Theres so much of analysis now that in the end people will figure him out, but Im not revealing any secrets at the moment.
