DHAKA, June 1, 2019 (BSS) – As Bangladesh would take on South Africa on Sunday, Shakib Al Hasan will eye to reach a feat that would help him to join an elite club of achieving 5000 runs and 250 wickets co currently.
So far only four cricketers – Abdul Razzaq (234 matches), Jacques Kallis (296 matches), Shahid Afridi (273 matches) and Sanath Jayasuriya (304 matches) – have achieved this ‘double’. But with 5667 runs and 249 wickets in just 197 matches, Shakib has the chance to do it faster than other four cricketers.
As he just needs one wicket to reach the milestone, he could have done it in tri-series final in Ireland but an unfortunate back spasm on the eve of the final ruled him out of the match. But it is blessing in curse as he has got the opportunity to do it in the cricket’s biggest extravaganza.
It’s however not the only record that beckons him. Shakib Al Hasan needs five more runs to complete 11000 runs in International cricket for Bangladesh having scored 10995 runs till date. Only Tamim Iqbal (12519) has scored more than 11000 International runs for Bangladesh thus far.
He also is going to start the World Cup as No. 1 all-rounder in ODI cricket and it’s the third straight World Cup that he would begin the cricket’s biggest extravaganza as No.1. No other player in this history can so far do so.
A place in the cricketing annals beckons, with Shakib hoping to seal the deal during Bangladesh’s opener against South Africa next Sunday.
“Getting a record in the World Cup would be a big achievement for me,” Shakib was quoted in ICC website.
“I am looking forward to it but I am still one wicket away. Hopefully I can get that in the first match. When your name is mentioned alongside some of the greats, obviously you feel proud. It will motivate me to do better,” said Shakib.
Ranked seventh in the world heading into cricket’s showpiece event, Bangladesh can count on Shakib, captain Mashrafe Mortaza and a host of other experienced heads as they seek to make their mark this summer.
That know-how, coupled with the presence of talented rookies such as swing bowler Abu Jayed Rahi, could prove crucial in the pressure cooker of ICC World Cup – particularly with expectations high at home.
“We have got a very good blend of youth and experience,” Shakib added.
“There are five of us who have played almost 200 ODIs, that’s huge experience under our belt, and then there are guys who are young but have played 60 or 70 ODIs.
“That will help us in a tournament like this where there is a lot of pressure. You need that experience to handle it so I think we have what we need to get results”.