This is a new era for the Bangladesh cricket team, particularly in the T20I format, as they are preparing for the trilogy T20I series against India without much-needed all-rounder Shakib al Hasan. The heat may well be hot in Gwalior, but the absence of Shakib appears to be a far bigger story, threatening to overshadow the team as they start their journey into the future.
The 37-year-old Shakib will be leaving behind a format that he has been playing for over 17 years ever since he decided to retire from T20I Internationals a few days before the second Test in Kanpur. Shakib is the most successful Bangladeshi in terms of the number of runs and wickets in T20Is, a place that can well show how important he is for the team as well as the game.
The Effectiveness of Shakib on Bangladeshi Cricket
Shakib al-Hasan’s role in T20I format is very large, not only for Bangladesh but also on a large scale around the globe. They had not been broken for more than 17 years and 209 days, and no player in the world can equal this wonderful record of runs and wickets.
Whether it was his bowling with his left-arm spin and removing the opposition’s main batsmen or batting and creating an opening with some invaluable runs, Shakib was the life of Bangladesh’s cricket for years.
Shakib’s retirement is heart-breaking to the Tigers, especially because they are going to lose the cradle. As Bangladesh gears up to face India in the T20I series, the team faces the question: how will they replace the irreplaceable?
Mehidy Hasan Miraz, a New Captain
Now, following Shakib’s exit, it will be Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s time to shine in the highlighting process. After regaining his place in the T20I format after the 14-month ban, Mehidy has already been considered the permanent replacement for Shakib. Mehidy is a solid player and a very good batting all-rounder to replace Shakib, who achieved a lot of all-season success as a batsman and a bowler.
However, Mehidy returns the question—what would happen to Mahedi Hasan? Surely, Mahedi has made himself one of the most prolific power play bowlers in the team or in the overall first six overs in T20 format.
His captaincy has been particularly splendid in being able to put pressure on the opposition early on, but with Mehidy back in the mix, the question of whether both can be accommodated in the same squad lingers.
When talking about this to Mushtaq Ahmed, the former national spin bowling coach, said that this is a good chance for both Mehidy Hasan and Mahedi Hasan to fill up the absence of Shakib.
Despite the numbers, Shakib has had a huge impact.
Shakib’s work is worth much more than the sums of money he saved. Skill was important, but so was being fearless, having a strong mind, and being a leader. Opting for Mushtaq Ahmed’s view on it, we can find out that Shakib stood out due to one thing only—a “big heart”—Shakib was ready to make a risky decision and would never hide from a failure.
Shakib proved to be comfortable in international cricket, especially when pressure is on. He had a great mind-set for the game to grab it by the horns, especially during such tense matches as the 2019 World Cup, in which he was the best player in all the tournaments.
While Bangladesh moves towards the future, characteristics such as these need to be reflected in the young players. It’s one thing to possess the talent to play a good bowler or batsman. It is quite another to have the character to cope with the pressure of expectation.
Chandika Hathurusingha’s succession plan
Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha has to closely understand the impact of Shakib’s retirement from cricket and is very much aware that getting a player such as Shakib is easier said than done. Talents such as Shakib as both a bowler and batsman, together with being a natural leader, are hard to come by.
Hathurusingha has, though, given the impression that there is a plan in place for succession. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), over the years, has nurtured quite a number of young talents in an effort to come up with such players.
Of course, Mehidy and Mahedi are prime contenders, but there could be others to rise to the occasion. The fortunes of this phase in Bangladesh cricket will, therefore, depend on the extent to which these younger players rise to the occasions demanded by the new phase.
Confronting the Pressure on Multiple Fronts
The first assignment will be the conditions that await them in Gwalior as they start their T20I series against India on October 6. The heat never really disappears in Afghanistan—it will be 34 degrees Celsius during the day and 40 degrees given the humidity—and the team will have to change quickly while being deprived of their particular all-rounder.
The Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, which has yet to host any international match, is all set to hold its final preparations for the series. Meanwhile, Bangladesh is struggling to get used to the new developments in the team; the stadium is experiencing security issues too, and the local right-wing groups called for a Bandh on match day.
Still, this series is going to be a litmus test for this fledgling team, especially for players like Mehidy and Mahedi, who now have a golden chance to take this team to a new horizon.
Bangladesh Cricket’s Path Forward Without Shakib Al Hasan
Now that Bangladeshi cricket has a fresh start after the retirement of Shakib al-Hasan, attention turns to the next generation. Shakib has been a colossus for Bangladesh cricket; he has scored bunches of runs with the bat and has scalped plenty of wickets with the ball in what has been a marvellous career.
He paved the way for the young generation players such as Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mahedi Hasan, who are in line to take on such crucial responsibilities. Both are talented and capable of taking this Bangladesh team into the future, but they need to bring the same mental fortitude to their game as Shakib did.
This mental strength will be vital, bearing in mind that the two forms of the game involve handling immense pressure and constant competition at a higher level. The team needs to grow and be open to change, and although losing Shakib could be for having new talents on the team.
The next series against India will be a test of such players as they bend new roles in the team. Being passionate about their careers, the two cricketers, Mehidy and Mahedi, can create their niches and pave the way for a prosperous Bangladesh cricket fraternity. It is now up to this team to stand behind these young players and be there for them moving forward.
Article Credit: https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/131854/bangladesh-prepare-for-life-after-shakib