Shakib Al Hasan: The underappreciated modern-day great who will leave as Bangladesh's greatest cricketer

Shakib Al Hasan is arguably the Kapil Dev of Bangladesh without a World Cup or maybe an Ian Botham for his country without a heroic Ashes series. He may not have been a fast bowler like the two legends from India and England but was as underappreciated as another great fast-bowling all-rounder of modern cricket - South Africa’s Jacques Kallis.

Cricket fans across the world may likely feel hesitant to speak the Bangladeshi legend’s name in the same breath when Kapil, Botham, or Kallis is being mentioned. However, as a spin bowling all-rounder, his impact on Test cricket must have been better than New Zealand’s Danial Vettori. If you are just wondering why the Bangladeshi all-rounder is being compared with Kapil, Botham, Kallis, and even Vettori then here is a fact that underlines Shakib’s invaluable contribution to his country. The 37-year-old all-rounder has 242 wickets and 4,600 runs in his 70 appearances leading into Kanpur which could very well maybe his swansong in the longest format of the game. Incidentally, Shakib is among the elite five cricketers with whom he has been compared in this paragraph- with 240 wickets and 4,500 runs.

On Thursday, it was a typical Test match eve in Kanpur with the Indian cricket team having an optional practice session followed by a usual press conference. Then came another ‘press conference’ by Sanjay Kapoor who is the venue director of UPCA where he spoke about how Green Park is ready to deal with monkeys during the match and the grand vision of playing the ‘Shine Green Park’ Test was also laid out! This was followed by Shakib Al Hasan deciding to drop the bombshell .

“It’s my desire [to retire]. I’ve shared it with the BCB and the selectors,” Shakib stunned a packed media room in Kanpur. “They have agreed with me. They are trying to organise everything in the best possible way so that I can go back to Bangladesh and play those two Test matches (against South Africa in October), or that match in Mirpur, and finish my Test career there. And then when we play a series abroad, I can go out of the country safely. To play that [as my last] match is my desire. If that doesn’t happen, then this (Kanpur Test) will be my last match,” announced the former Bangladesh captain.

A lot has been happening on the political and domestic front in Bangladesh recently, and Shakib Al Hasan has been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons due to some bizarre allegations from his opponents. Not long ago, he was involved with the Awami League Government as a Member of Parliament, which could be contributing to the recent controversies. Unfortunately, Shakib’s history of misconduct on the cricket field sometimes overshadows his impressive cricketing achievements.

And yet, if Kanpur does indeed become his swansong, Shakib Al Hasan can retire from Test cricket happily — even if his final match is away from home. This writer still recalls the joy and pride among local media and former cricketers when Shakib made his Test debut in 2007 against India. He was hailed as Bangladesh’s brightest talent, and over the next decade and a half, the southpaw made his country proud with numerous memorable performances. In 2009, in his first Test as captain against the West Indies in Grenada, Shakib took eight wickets and scored an unbeaten, match-winning 96 in a fourth-innings chase of 215. This was Bangladesh’s first overseas series win and remains a standout achievement in an otherwise modest Test record for the nation. His innings of 87 and 100 — his maiden Test century — against New Zealand in Hamilton also elevated his stature as a Test batter. Over the following years, he consistently ranked among the top all-rounders in the ICC rankings.

During the recent T20 World Cup in the USA and the Caribbean, Shakib Al Hasan, along with Indian captain Rohit Sharma, was one of only two players to have competed in every World Cup since 2007. While the Indian captain ended his career as a World Cup winner in the shortest format, Shakib once again returned empty-handed.

While announcing his Test retirement news, the former Bangladesh captain also clarified that he has already played his last game in T20Is. “I am happy with the decision. I don’t have any regrets in my life. I have enjoyed my cricket career. I think it is the right time for me and Bangladesh cricket. The board president and selectors feel that it is the right time too.”

One can only hope that history will be kinder to this giant of Bangladesh cricket once he concludes his international career, as he has undoubtedly been the greatest cricketer from his country.