Shakib Al Hasan has been struggling form in the T20 World Cup 2024. (AP)
Bangladesh might have to consider their options as their veteran all-rounder, Shakib al Hasan is yet to confirm his availability for the India tour on September 2024.
Bangladesh’s veteran all-rounder Shakib al Hasan’s availability is uncertain for their upcoming tour of India. The Bangla tigers will take on their next-door neighbours in two Tests and three T20Is which begin from September 19 to October 12.
The all-rounder has already left for the USA on July 1 to take part in the Los Angeles Knight Riders’ upcoming season in Major League cricket. He suggested that he is not thinking too far ahead and remains focused on taking part in MLC followed by Canada’s Global T20 League.
“I don’t have many plans. There are two T20 tournaments in front of me one is MLC and the other one is the Global T20 League in Canada. Let me see where I stand after playing these two tournaments because I need to understand (how I feel),” said Shakib as quoted by Cricbuzz.
He does not feel that he has the time to think too far into the future and has resorted to focusing more on the short-term and will think of his next move following the Pakistan tour where they will take part in a two-match Test series.
Shakib’s performances with both bat and ball have certainly not lived up to his lofty standards. He finished the T20 World Cup 2024 with only 111 runs in the seven games he was a part of and his strike rate was disastrous at just 106.73. With the ball, he ended up with just three wickets through the campaign.
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The south-paw has been featuring for the Bangladesh side for quite some time and his recent performances have warranted questions from the likes of Virender Sehwag who questioned whether it was time for him to give his spot to someone younger, keeping the future in perspective.
So far Shakib has not done anything to indicate that he might call time on his international career. He, however, continues to regularly feature in franchise cricket across many leagues and his experience will be key to returning to his best form.
