Bangladesh skipper Tamim Iqbal lauded his fellow teammate Shakib Al Hasan asserting that having a performer like him is a blessing for any team.
The champion cricketer displayed a majestic all-round performance in the third and final of the three internationals that aided them to avoid a clean sweep against their England at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram on Monday.
With Shakib hitting a blistering 75 off 71 balls powered Bangladesh to a moderate 246 and the home side successfully defended it after they bowled out the visitors for 196 in 43.1 thanks to Shakib’s 4-35.
‘I feel Shakib’s today’s performance was amazing. Overall, in his career he has done some amazing stuff. I am used to say that any would be blessed to have a player like him,’ said Tamim after the match at ZACS.
Scalping his eleventh four wicket haul, Shakib became the first Bangladeshi and third left-spinners overall after Sanath Jayasuriya and Daniel Vettori to land the 300-wicket milestone.
After being reduced to 163-5, that hinted at one more below par total for the hosts, Shakib appeared as a rescuer for the side and shared a 54-ball 49 with Afif Hossain in the sixth wicket stand, followed by a 13-ball 19 with tailender Ebadot Hossain to reverse all speculations.
‘I thought he was phenomenal. The way he batted, especially with the tail-enders, those 20-25 runs were very important.’
‘I think he is mentally very strong. Most of the time you will see him come out of pressure situations with similar performances. He has done it in the past.’
‘He has great skillset to back his mentality. Not many people is blessed like him to bowl 10 overs and bats the way he bats. I think he utilizes both very well.’
Although the ZACS was not offering substantial assistance to the spinners in the encounter, however, alongside Shakib, Bangladesh’s other spinner duo Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, also claimed two and one wicket, respectively, to contribute to the victory that greatly contented their skipper.
‘Honestly, the wicket didn’t have that much spin, but the way he bowled was brilliant. It gave confidence to Taijul who didn’t start well. He was talking to Shakib. I thought it was a fantastic effort from him.’
The Tiger skipper further accepted that 246 wasn’t a decent total, adding that it would be better if they could post 270-280.
‘It was not a decent total. We were such a position from where we could sling 270-280.’
