Sports
The one Bangladeshi cricketer who could walk into any international XI
Over the last couple of decades, Bangladesh's entire worth as a sporting nation on the international arena may be attributed to its achievements in cricket, where it has successfully held its own as a member of the elite Test-playing club since entering the scene in 2001.
Bangladesh has ever reached on the top in no field of the international level, except corruption, but you can single out a name Shakib Al Hasan who several times has gained the world number one all-rounder ranking across all three formats of cricket. The 31-year left-arm orthodox spinner and southpaw at the crease Shakib is currently holding the number one all-rounder ranking in Test and ODI cricket.
The Magura-boy Shakib is graduated from Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP) -- a sports nourishing institution of the country -- started his career with national side in August 2006, making his debut in ODI for an eight-wicket victory against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club where he played not out 30* off 49 balls, including two boundaries, and bowled out Elton Chigumbura to open his wicket haul account conceding 39 off 10 overs.
During his era, Shakib [so far played 51 Tests, 185 ODIs, 63 T20Is and 259 T20s] has become the 3rd highest [3594 runs at average 40.38] scorer in Tests, the 2nd highest [5243 runs at average 34.95] scorer in ODIs and the 2nd highest [1237 runs at average 22.49] scorer in T20Is among Bangladesh cricketers.
He also become the most wicket taker [188 wickets conceding average 32.37 with an economy rate of 3.01] in Tests, the 2nd most wicket taker [235 wickets conceding average 29.46] in ODI and the most wicket getter [75 wickets conceding average 20.61] in T20I among Bangladesh crickets.
In October 2017, Shakib set a record as he became only the 5th player across the globe to score 5000 runs and take 200 wickets in ODIs, after Sanath Jayasuriya [Sri Lanka], Shahid Afridi [Pakistan], Jacques Kallis [South Africa] and Abdur Razzaq [Pakistan].
However, country's dashing opener Tamim Iqbal [6018 runs from 179 in ODIs at average 34.98], [1385 runs from 62 T20Is at average 24.29] and [3985 runs from 54 Tests at average 38.68] is leading as the top scorer in all three formats in terms of batting among Bangladesh cricketers while Tigers source of inspiration shorter version Mashrafe Bin Mortaza is leading as the highest wicket taker [237 wickets in 185 matches conceding average 30.85] in ODIs.
Besides his national assignment, the Tigers Test and T20I captain Shakib, represented Bangladesh with pride in several franchised T20 league across the world, including Indian Premier League (IPL), County Cricket in England, Big Bash League in Australia, Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Shakib also has a remarkable impression in Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) where he scored the 4th highest 1182 runs at average 26.26 in 61 matches in the last five seasons and with ball captured the highest 83 wickets conceding average 17.87 runs till April 22.
Shakib, who is considered as the greatest cricketer to have ever played for Bangladesh, is now continuing his show with taking part in the 11th IPL for a franchise team Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) the franchise picked Shakib up in IPL auction 2018 by INR 2 crore. He played last six seasons with the two times champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
In the current IPL, Shakib got spot in the SRH's XIs in all five matches and scored 87 runs at average 29.00 with strike rate of 135.93 with bat and with ball he got five wickets for 138 conceding average 27.60 runs.
In the 16th match of the 11th IPL, Shakib hit 24 off 12 balls and was adjudged Super Striker of the Match for an striking rate of 200 against Kings XI Punjab, thought his side SRH conceded a 15-run defeat at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh on April 19.
Shakib has a long record in IPL with KKR as he played 43 matches in the last six seasons -- 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 -- for KKR and scored 498 off 382 balls, at average 21.65, with best figure of 66* against Gujarat Lions at Eden Gardens, Kolkata in May 2016. He recorded two half centuries with hitting 44 boundaries and 15 over boundaries in 43 IPL games.
With ball, Shakib captured 43 wickets in 43 match conceding 1,101 off 921 balls, at average of 25.60, and with an economy rate of 7.17.
KKR tasted the title first in the 5th IPL in 2012 when Shakib played eight matches to score 91 off 74 balls, at average 15.16 with bat. With ball he captured 12 wickets conceding 195 off 180 balls, at average 16.25, recording his IPL best bowling figure of 3/17 against Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens, Kolkata in April 13.
After missed the 6th IPL, Shakib again appeared for KKR in the 7th IPL in 2014 and the side again clinched the title when Shakib played 13 games to score 227 off 152 balls, at average 32.42, with his maiden IPL half century of 66 runs. With ball, he captured 11 wickets conceding 334 off 300 balls, at average 30.36.
Shakib is the first Bangladesh cricketer attended the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) World Cricket Committee meeting, former England cricket team captain Mike Gatting in the chair, as member in January 2018.
However, from its inception in 2006, MCC WCC sits in meeting one or twice in a year to discuss on different aspects and needs for the development of world cricket, including rules and regulations, before forward its recommendations as proposal to International Cricket Council (ICC) for implementation.
On April 23, Shakib has been included in the ICC World XI to play West Indies team in a one-off T20I at Lord's on May 31, 2018. Bangladesh dashing opener Tamim Iqbal also got a spot in the same XI with top-ranked T20 leg-spinner Rashid Khan [Afghanistan], Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik [Pakistan] and Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera under the leadership of England ODI captain Eoin Morgan.
The match is being organised to raise funds for the reconstruction of stadiums that were damaged in the Caribbean Islands last year by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
Besides cricket, Shakib is a Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh.
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