Sports desk: Ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan seemed to be extremely vexed with too much discussion and focus on Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan as he was perpetually labeled as the main threat for Bangladesh in the upcoming three-match T20 International series.
Rashid Khan has been on a roll in IPL, claiming 21 wickets in 17 matches but what sent an SOS in Bangladesh tent that he mustered the Indian condition in such way that he sometimes was almost unplayable.
Therefore the common question was as to how Bangladesh would deal with Rashid Khan and Shakib was approached too. But the ace all-rounder who just arrived in the country after ending his IPL stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad appeared to be angry on this question.
“Who (which players) discussed about him (Rashid Khan),” Shakib threw counter-question. “No players discussed on him, rather you people (journalists) asked the question and then the players answered.”
“However it’s okay. Everyone is good bowler. Whoever plays the international cricket, he is the good bowler. Sometimes someone bowls good, someone does bad. Good batsman will deal with bowlers expertly, that’s natural,” Shakib answered casually at the VIP terminal of the Hajrat Shahjalal International Airport yesterday.
The Bangladesh captain further casually said he didn’t see any necessity of discussing about Rashid Khan as he was asked whether there needs any strategy to deal with Rashid since the main focus is on the leg-spinner.
“If you keep asking questions him, the discussion will be going on. I wouldn’t give any answer, so there will be no discussion.”
Shakib’s anger seemed to be unabated also when he was asked the question about who is favourite in the series.
He replied: “There is nothing like favourite in T20 cricket. Anyone can beat anyone on a particular day. But since Afghanistan is ahead of us in rankings, I think they will start as favourite.”
However Shakib Al Hasan said they need to devise their game plan according to the condition.
“Attacking is not always the best solution. We will definitely discuss on how to play in a particular place, how to exploit the condition well.”
Having said that Shakib thought the condition of Dehradun, the venue of the series, will offer them a typical Indian condition. Shakib though played all over the India, thanks to his IPL venture, he never played in Dehradun.
“I didn’t play in Dehradun but the condition should be typical Indian condition. So I think, playing in IPL and my experience about Indian condition will come to effect when we will play the series against Afghanistan,” Shakib opined.
This year Shakib was sold to Sunrisers Hyderabad and for the first time in his IPL career played all of the matches, something he didn’t get in Kolkata Knight Riders tent despite being the integral part of the team for the last eight years.
Shakib played his part well in bowling but in batting he couldn’t capitalize despite getting start in most of the matches. He ended up with 239 runs, fifth highest for the team and 14 wickets, second highest behind Rashid and Siddarth Kaul’s 21.
However Sunrisers Hyderabad couldn’t finish on high as Shane Watson played an inhuman 57 ball-117 not out to make the IPL final one-sided and helped Chennai Super Kings become champions with an effortless eight-wicket victory.
“It could have been better but overall satisfactory result in team’s perspective. On personal ground, I am happy with my performance but I could have contributed more in batting. I got start in most of the matches but failed to capitalise on,” Shakib concluded.
