“That’s a brave question, Masha Allah!” Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto did not hold back his surprise when asked if he felt the pressure of carrying an out-of-form Shakib Al Hasan in the Test team. Shakib’s performance, or rather lack thereof, in the series opener has ignited discussions and raised questions about whether he’s still fit to cope with the physical demands of five-day cricket at his age.
Shakib, a seasoned all-rounder, appeared to be below par throughout the match. He dropped a catch, failed to claim any wickets in his 21 overs, and managed only moderate scores of 32 and 25 with the bat, looking far from his dominant self on both occasions. Adding fuel to the fire, Shakib’s unusual behavior of chewing his helmet strap while batting caught the attention of many, prompting Bangladesh’s batting coach, David Hemp, to clarify the incident later to Cricbuzz.
Shakib’s introduction into the attack after 50 overs in the first innings was another point of contention, initially attributed to him potentially carrying a finger injury. Despite these controversies, Shanto backed his senior teammate wholeheartedly, dismissing any negative speculation.
“As a captain, honestly, I look at how much hard work a player is putting into his game,” Najmul said to reporters during the post-match press conference on Sunday. “Whether he is struggling enough to make a comeback – for me, what is important is their intention toward the team, and how much they are willing to give to the team.”
Najmul elaborated that his assessment of players isn’t solely based on performance stats but more on their preparation and mindset towards contributing to the team. “I try to look at everyone in the same way, whether it’s Nahid Rana or Mushfiq Bhai. More than whether he’s scoring runs or not, I look at his preparation and his thinking about the team,” he added.
Justifying his decision to delay Shakib’s introduction to the bowling attack, Shanto explained, “I didn’t really need him in the first innings, seeing how the three pace bowlers were performing. Miraz too was bowling well. It was my plan to keep the fast bowlers on for longer. We took six wickets quickly too.”
Addressing Shakib’s injury concerns, he said, “His finger was taped. He was bleeding from his finger from the last time he was hit there. I don’t feel comfortable talking about a player’s individual performance. This is a team game, and only a whole team’s contribution makes it possible to win a game.”
The captain’s emphasis was clear: team effort over individual performance.
. “Overall, we should have all contributed more. I am not worried about individual performances.”
Despite the switch from the more commonly used Kookaburra balls to SG balls, Najmul refused to use it as an excuse for their underwhelming performance. “I don’t think the ball was a big issue. It is just a ball. There’s obviously a difference between Kookaburra and SG balls, but the players adjusted to it. We can’t say that we played poorly because of the type of ball.”
Reflecting on their performance, he stated, “We didn’t bat well in the first innings. It was a very important phase of the game. We could have been in a better position if we had at least one top-order partnership.”
He stressed the importance of learning from their mistakes in this match to improve in the future. “In terms of learning from this game, I think it is very important that the top order, especially in the first innings, should have been more careful. We need to put some runs on the board. Going forward, all the batters think that they can come back in the next Test.”
While noting some positives, Najmul concluded, “It is important to spend the time on the wicket. But it wasn’t enough. Still, it will help for the second Test. It was very important for the openers to put on 62 runs. That’s one thing we can look forward to in the next Test match.”
Despite the many questions surrounding Shakib’s form and fitness, Najmul’s unequivocal support for his teammate is a reflection of his leadership style, focusing on unity and collective effort as the team looks to bounce back stronger in the next game.