“Bangladesh and Test cricket demand Shakib to lead from
the front”
On a track with a plenty of help for the pacers, Kemar Roach
transformed into a demon. In the first session of Day 1 of first Test, Roach
created havoc in the Bangladesh batting lineup. In the twinkle of an eye, Tamim
Iqbal, Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim left the crease and it was up to the
Bangladesh captain to lead from the front. But Shakib Al Hasan, who was
appointed as the Test skipper last year, lasted for just two balls. He poked at
a Roach-delivery, which was leaving him and thus started off his second
stint as the Test skipper of Tigers with a duck! Within one hour, the visitors
folded for just 43 runs!
Had he FIFA World Cup not been on the horizon, the
Bangladesh cricket fraternity would have been under fire for sure! The
Bangladesh critics and fans love their boys, but whenever such a disastrous
display crops up, they don’t step back to take their heroes to the cleaners and
that flawed genius Shakib has always been the target like Cristiano Ronaldo!
The criticism regarding the debacle on Day 1 was evident,
but it failed to cross the limits of ugliness only because of the greatest show
on earth, the twist and turn of which was more fascinating than the action at
Antigua! The Shakib-bashing did not cross the threshold level, but still, it
could be palpable and obviously, one expects the captain of the team to exhibit
the character when the opposition is at the top of their game.
Shakib is intelligent and charismatic. He has a very sharp
cricketing brain and in his heyday, he is able to run the show on his own. And
when the matter is about exhibiting consistency, there is still no one in the
Bangladesh team to hold a candle in front of the best allrounder in the world.
But at Antigua, he looked a helpless figure, who was
searching for answers. As the day progressed and the sun baked down, one could
witness a champion to melt down. It was evident that the best in the
business was not enjoying himself in the middle.
The track had uneven bounce, but he was seen unable to
exploit those while those armers did not dish out like before. Yes, even a
champion cricketer might have an off-day, but this cricketing world is pretty
unforgiving about the captains and when the captain is the best allrounder in
the world, well, none wishes to listen to any excuses. In the subcontinent, the
scenario is not at all pretty and in case of the arrogant child, it’s too ugly!
Shakib cut a frustrating figure in the first Test and in a
country like Bangladesh, where people just wait to crucify the best only to
uplift the mediocre performers for the sake of self-benefits, Shakib just needs
to wake up from the nightmare at Antigua and rediscover his mojo as early as
possible.
Each and every team members watch towards the captain during
the tough times and that’s where a captain needs to rise to the occasion.
Shakib needs to act as a lighthouse for the Tigers. He needs to lead by an
example.
Shakib may not relish playing Test matches these days, but
the fact is, he is the Test captain in the best format of the game and the best
format demands the best cricketer of the country to deliver the best.
Bangladesh and Test cricket demand Shakib to lead from the front. As because,
the success of Shakib in Tests mean the success of Tigers - a reality, which
has been proved right time and again.
It’s time to wake up Shakib Al Hasan!
Note: This article has been published at Cricketsoccer on 11/07/2018 It’s time to wake up Shakib Al Hasan!
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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