What can Shakib do in his third tenure?

Former cricketers and cricket analysts believe Shakib Al Hasan is now a more mature and seasoned leader and will help Bangladesh while leading the side in Tests for the third time.

Tareq Aziz, a former cricketer and analyst, told The Business Post that he will love to see a more matured, experienced Shakib as captain, while the all-rounder’s mentor and Cricket Advisor of BKSP, Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, believes the new captain will bring a change in the Test culture of the team.

“I think he is a bit more organised now. The advantage is he does not have to start from scratch. He is at such a point in his career where his individual desires are less. His focus will more be on the team’s development, bringing in a team culture where everybody will try to do well. He may be involved in the team’s building process. I hope he will instil a culture of playing competitive cricket,” Fahim told The Business Post on Thursday.

Both Shakib and Mominul Haque were Fahim’s students, and he watched them very closely at their young age. Fahim feels that Shakib can lead from the front.

“Shakib’s advantages are his performance, leadership qualities, and acceptance in the team. He has very good terms with his teammates. I believe he can create a wonderful environment in the dressing room and within the team where everyone can play their best cricket with full confidence,” added Fahim.

As a captain, Shakib was not very interested in accommodating pacers in home Tests. Against Afghanistan and West Indies, he did not pick a pacer in the playing XI. Mominul was always a believer in pace bowling and gave enough chances to the pacers both at home and abroad. Fahim thinks Shakib will not go back to the old strategy.

“At one stage our batting was very weak. So, our main aim was to load as many batsmen as possible so that we could bat for long hours. But now I think the situation has improved. Our batsmen sometimes put on a poor show, but now we have batsmen who can contribute. So, if we play with five bowlers, there is room for taking two pacers beside three spinners,” said Fahim.

“Our pacers have also improved, but at the same time, a special strategy must be taken against specific teams,” he added.

“Shakib does not care about what will happen. He lives in the present and believes in his abilities. He does not have the fear of failure. I hope he can instil the same belief in the team,” said Fahim.

Tareq Aziz also echoed Fahim, “I believe we will see a more mature, sharper, and experienced version of Shakib. We hope Shakib will shape the team up for better performances.”