Sports Desk: Shakib Al Hasan will not be part of Bangladesh’s squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, starting tomorrow, November 6, in Sharjah, UAE.
It was previously confirmed that the country’s star all-rounder would miss this series, and as such, the Bangladesh team has been arranged without him.
However, despite his absence, Shakib’s influence will still be felt.
How can Shakib still be present despite not being in the squad? It’s possible because Shakib is the best all-rounder in all three formats for Bangladesh.
His exceptional all-round performances against Afghanistan in the past have made him a key player in such encounters.
A quick look at the statistics highlights just how effective Shakib has been against Afghanistan.
Among the two teams, the highest run-scorer in head-to-head matches is Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim, who has scored 459 runs in 15 matches.
However, Shakib is the second-highest run-scorer with 413 runs from 15 matches.
When it comes to wicket-taking, Shakib leads the way among bowlers.
In these 15 encounters, Shakib has claimed 30 wickets, and his 5-wicket haul (5/29) in the 2019 World Cup remains a remarkable achievement that no other bowler has matched.
Additionally, Shakib holds the record for the best all-round performances in matches between Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
His contributions have frequently earned him the “Player of the Match” awards, especially for securing victories for Bangladesh. His absence from the team in this series will undoubtedly be felt by the team.
One of the biggest gaps left by Shakib’s absence is in the left-arm spin department.
While Taijul Islam has partially filled this role in Test cricket, none of the current left-arm spinners, including Nasum Ahmed, have been able to effectively replace Shakib in ODIs as yet.
So, while Shakib may not be physically present in the squad, his absence will be a significant void for Bangladesh, and the team will certainly miss his all-round brilliance.