Take a bow, Shakib Al Hasan!

It was crisis time for Bangladesh captain Shaikb Al Hasan.

 

By Faisal Caesar

 

Real champions are those who think of winning even in the face of a defeat. Bangladesh epitomized that in their World Cup game against Ireland on Friday.

 

Ireland were chasing a target of 206 on a track that had nothing in it for the bowlers. But even on this wicket, a disciplined Irish attack had done exceedingly well to restrict Bangladesh in front of their vocal home crow. Humiliation was knocking at the door for the Tigers. Ireland threatened to shut the quarter-final door on Bangladesh.

 

It was crisis time for Bangladesh captain Shaikb Al Hasan. It was an acid test of his leadership skills. And, boy, did he rise to the challenge!

 

In my book, Shakib’s captaincy was at his brilliant best. Not for a fleeting moment his shoulders dropped. He attacked relentlessly; despite memories of the Sehwag mauling was fresh in the memory of his bowlers.

 

In the 10^th over, Shakib brought on Ashraful and Naeem Al Islam. The ploy of introducing Ashraful was risky decision as the bowler’s confidence was at its lowest ebb. But Shakib believed in his bowler’s ability to deliver the good. And Ashraful just did what his captain wanted from him. He started bowling off-spin, and not leg-spin, as the track was aiding the finger spinners to pick up two vital wickets.

 

Shakib gave him a protracted spell of nine overs and in the process sacrificed his own full quota of 10 overs. As the saying goes, “Fortunes favours the brave.”

 

The captain’s deployment of Shafiul was another instance of his ability to understand and exploit a given situation. In his first spell, Shafiul was hammered, but Shakib used him in short bursts whenever a wicket fell and advised him to bowl a fuller length. And how well his tactics worked!

 

Shakib knew that Shafiul is capable of delivering the goods and he just needed to be used as per the demand of the situation. Shafiul responded by jolting the Irish tail.

 

Bangladesh needed a win to come back on track. And this win against Ireland was very important. Firstly, to stay in the race for the quarter-finals and lastly to get back the confidence which was severely undermined by Virender Sehwag’s pummeling.

 

Bangladesh owe it all to one man for staying in the race – their captain. Take a bow, Shakib!

 

(Faisal Caesar is a doctor by profession whose dream of becoming a cricketer remained a dream. But his passion is very much alive and he translates that passion in writing about the game) 

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