He also discusses fast bowling on hitting-friendly terrain in India (1:33)
Shakib Al Hasan’s trip to Dhaka polarized opinions, but the captain’s extra education won the hearts of the Bangladesh team. Taskin Ahmed said they appreciated Shakib’s efforts to use his day off to return to Dhaka for batting drills.
Shakib travelled to Dhaka on October 25, the day after Bangladesh’s World Cup match against South Africa in Mumbai. He went straight to the Shere Bangla National Stadium, where he trained with his mentor of years of training, Nazmul Abedeen. He worked in some of his fields, though it was more about getting comfortable with Abedeen, someone Shakib has known since he was a teenager. He returned to Calcutta on 26 October, on the recommendation of the team’s control after it became big news.
“He informed team control that he needed to attack his hitter,” Taskin said. “It was a rest day and Dhaka is near Calcutta. He did not travel to Dhaka for any other purpose. It was similar to cricket. He chased the coach and the control told him everything was fine. He did not break any rules. He asked permission. He hit during 4 hours on the first day. He trained on the second day before returning to Calcutta. As players and teammates, we “I appreciate that he hit on a rest day. His stick is so vital to the team that he is desperate to get it too. “
Taskin said the team gathered at the team hotel for dinner Thursday night, spending wonderful time with Shakib, who had returned a while earlier. “We all went to dinner after he came back yesterday. We had a wonderful time,” he said.
Shakib returned to Dhaka from Kolkata on another occasion, but it was at IPL 2019, when Sunrisers Hyderabad did not regularly pick him. He had gone to work with his other mentor, Mohammad Salahuddin.
Taskin said team doctors cleared him to play the Netherlands on Saturday. He missed two games with a shoulder problem, which he says has been going on for more than two years. “I had this shoulder injury for the first time in South Africa two years ago. I’ve had a tendon tear for a long time, I’m taking care of it. Even in the Asian Cup and the World Cup, I play with it and all of a sudden it has swollen up.
“The doctor and physio did the MRI and he found out, so I rested for a few days and now I feel better. Personally, I’m in good shape and after playing I can see where I am,” he said.
Taskin said the World Cup courts didn’t really offer much for fast bowlers and many of them had to adapt to the conditions, slowing their pace. “So far, I haven’t noticed much for bowlers at this World Cup. All pitches are smart for hitters, but there are also demanding situations and it’s not just about speed.
“Fast bowlers are also struggling and wasting points. So, in those kinds of conditions, it’s not all about speed. You want varied skills and awareness of the game. It’s not just about speed. You want a lot of skills to succeed on those types of surfaces,” he said.