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Who is Shakib Al Hasan?

Who is Shakib Al Hasan?

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Shakib Al Hasan is possibly one of the greatest all-round players in the history of cricket. He is extraordinary at both batting and bowling, and he can play in different formats of matches. For a long time, he has been topping the ICC Rankings for all-rounders because there aren’t many others who can compete with him. He has become famous and respected among many of the game’s legends.

As a true all-rounder, Shakib plays a crucial role in Bangladesh’s team. He has consistently performed well for his country for many years. Shakib’s cricketing talent caught attention when he played in different villages close to his home in Magura. He practiced and improved his skills at a sports facility managed by the government, which eventually led to his selection in the Under-19 squad for a three-team tournament involving England and Sri Lanka.

Shakib has maintained a steady record of achievements for his nation over an extended period. Regarded as a figure that consistently generates attention, he remains a prominent presence in the news cycle. In 2019, ESPN ranked him as the 90th most renowned athlete worldwide, underlining his global recognition. Notably, he secured placements in the ICC Men’s Team of the Year on two occasions, in 2009 and 2021. As of April 2023, Shakib’s name stands atop the list for the highest number of wickets in men’s T20 International matches.

Early Life and Career of Shakib Al Hasan

Hailing from the town of Magura in Khulna, Shakib Al Hasan’s journey in cricket began during his formative years. Sports editors also acknowledge Shakib’s early proficiency in the sport, often securing engagements to represent various villages and teams.

One particular match saw Shakib in his typical aggressive batting and swift bowling, while also experimenting spin bowling, a trial that yielded mixed results. His selection to play for Islampur proved significant, as he marked his entry with an immediate wicket – a notable achievement considering it was his first experience with a standard cricket ball, having previously practiced with a makeshift tennis ball. The budding cricketer dedicated six months to honing his skills at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan, a government-operated sports institution.

Shakib’s inaugural appearance on the Under-17 stage took place in 2003 during the ACC Under-17 Cup, where he confronted UAE Under-17s. His bowling flair shone through, culminating in an impressive performance, with a notable figure of 3–18 in 8 overs, which included 2 maiden overs.

A significant milestone arrived in May 2004 when a 17-year-old Shakib made his entry into the first-class cricket arena, representing Khulna. His debut match put forth his versatility as he displayed figures of 0/116 across 30 overs in the first innings and 3/92 over 28 overs in the second innings. Notably, Shakib also contributed with the bat, accumulating 13 runs off 11 deliveries, adorned with three boundaries in the first innings, and 16 runs off 43 balls in the second innings. It was during this match that he secured his first-ever first-class wicket, dismissing Rakibul Hasan.

In November 2005, Shakib Al Hasan marked his first representation for Bangladesh at the Under-19 level during the 2005 Afro-Asia Under-19 Cup, facing off against India Under-19. In his debut outing, he contributed 24 runs off 23 deliveries, featuring four boundaries, while simultaneously displaying his bowling knack with a commendable record of 2/26 in 10 overs, including 2 maidens, and capturing his inaugural wicket, that of Tanmay Srivastava. Throughout the tournament, Shakib participated in 5 matches, amassing a total of 138 runs at an average of 38.50, along with securing 5 wickets at an average of 25.20.

The first day of January in 2005 witnessed Shakib’s initiation into the realm of first-class cricket. He debuted in the match pitting Bangladesh Cricket Board President’s XI against the Zimbabwean side, registering scores of 14 off 14 deliveries in the first innings and 15 off 66 balls in the second innings.

Notably, his bowling efforts amounted to figures of 0/133 across 32 overs. Come February of the same year, Shakib celebrated his inaugural first-class international wicket by dismissing Vusimuzi Sibanda, followed by a remarkable five-wicket haul in a fixture against Zimbabwe A.

A standout moment unfolded on November 30, 2005, when a 18-year-old Shakib led Bangladesh to a notable four-wicket victory over England in the opening match of a tri-nation Under-19 tournament, also featuring Sri Lanka, through his exceptional 82 runs from 62 deliveries. In a significant tri-nation tournament final, his monumental 86-ball century, combined with a trio of wickets, played an instrumental role in guiding his team to success.

Over 18 youth One Day Internationals, Shakib’s contributions have encompassed 563 runs at an average of 35.18, marked by three half-centuries and a century, his highest individual score reaching 100. On the bowling front, he clinched 22 wickets at an average of 20.18, maintaining an economy rate of 3.68, with his best figures recorded as 4/34.


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Shakib Al Hasan’s Cricket Journey

Just ahead of the 2007 World Cup, Shakib Al Hasan marked a significant achievement by notching his maiden One Day International (ODI) century against Canada during a tri-series hosted in the West Indies. His composed half-century, coupled with a disciplined 10-over spell yielding 44 runs without a wicket, played a critical role as Bangladesh secured a commanding victory over India. These consistent displays further solidified his standing in the cricketing circle. Another milestone was stamped into his career as he struck a century against Pakistan later in the same year.

Transitioning into the Test arena, Shakib seamlessly carried forward his impressive form from the ODIs. A defining moment emerged during the Test encounter against New Zealand in Chittagong in 2008. In this contest, he paraded his bowling mastery by claiming a remarkable 7/36, a record that continues to stand as the finest figures by a Bangladeshi bowler to this day. Shakib’s contribution extended beyond the bowling sphere as he cracked a fifty in the second innings, setting a challenging target of 317 for New Zealand. Despite his efforts, the support from the other bowlers was lacking, leading to New Zealand winning the match.

Ascending to the top rank among all-rounders by the ICC, Shakib’s consistency and excellence were underscored. His leadership role was also noteworthy, assuming the captaincy from Mohammad Ashraful and leading by example. An incredible display unfolded during the second Test in Grenada, where he not only secured five wickets but also compiled an undefeated 96 runs against a weakened West Indies side. This performance contributed significantly to Bangladesh’s 3-0 victory in the Test series.

Shakib’s time at Worcestershire proved transformative, enhancing his skills. He seized a tally of 35 wickets during a single season, including a standout performance with his career-best figures of 7/32 against Middlesex. This contribution propelled the County to ascend to Division 1 of the championship. Simultaneously, he played a central role in Bangladesh’s sweeping victory over New Zealand in 2010, leading both the wickets taken and runs scored columns.

In the backdrop of his successful leadership, where he guided Bangladesh to wins against formidable opponents like England, Ireland, and Netherlands during the 2011 World Cup, the team faced an untimely exit from the tournament. Despite the subsequent criticism directed his way, Shakib remained undeterred. He channeled his focus and delivered commendable performances for Kolkata during the 2011 IPL.

While his role as captain faced a hitch, being relieved of his duties before the West Indies tour in 2011, Shakib yet again showed his mettle on the field. He became Bangladesh’s premier wicket-taker in both the ODI and Test series against the West Indies, bolstered by a portion of his 168 runs across two Test matches. His batting exploits complemented his adept bowling, with an added total of 79 runs from the ODI encounters. Although Bangladesh experienced losses in both series, Shakib remained firm and resilient.

Continuing his saga of exceptional achievements, Shakib stood as Bangladesh’s foremost run-scorer and wicket-taker during the home Test series against Pakistan in December 2011. In a defining moment, he etched his name in history during the second Test, becoming the first Bangladeshi player to accomplish the feat of scoring a century and claiming five wickets in a single innings. Following this remarkable display, his position at the zenith of the ICC’s Test all-rounders ranking solidified his standing as a true cricketing luminary.

Shakib left a trail of shattered records at his feet. In 2019, he achieved a striking milestone, becoming the quickest player to amass 250 wickets and 6000 runs in ODIs, accomplishing this feat in just 202 matches, 92 matches ahead of his nearest competitor, Shahid Afridi (with 294 matches). In the circle of ODI runs, he followed in the footsteps of Tamim Iqbal, becoming the second Bangladeshi to reach the 6000-run mark.

One of the biggest achievements of Shakib’s career was during the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup. The tournament witnessed his historic feat as the first all-rounder to eclipse the 600-run and ten-wicket mark within a singular World Cup event. Adding a rare and raw touch, he mirrored Yuvraj Singh’s iconic World Cup feat by clinching a half-century and clinching a five-wicket haul in a single match.

Shakib Al Hasan’s Captaincy and Vice Captaincy

Shakib Al Hasan has played a key role as both vice captain and captain in various situations. While serving as vice captain, he has also stepped up as captain when the regular leaders were unavailable. In the scope of Test matches, he has taken charge in 14 games, achieving victory in 3 of them.

Transitioning to One Day Internationals (ODIs), he has led the team in a total of 50 matches, emerging triumphant in 23 of those instances. Similarly, in T20 Internationals (T20Is), he has guided his team to victory in 3 out of 14 matches.

Shakib’s competence and leadership extends across all three formats of the game, reflecting his extensive 16-year international career. His journey as a captain commenced at the young age of 22 years and 115 days back in 2009, making him the fifth youngest cricketer to steer his country in Test matches.

Following his initial captaincy stint, which concluded in 2011, Shakib later returned to lead the Test and T20I teams in 2017. Unfortunately, his second stint was cut short in 2019 due to a one-year ban imposed by the ICC. However, in 2022, he once again assumed the captaincy for the Test and T20I formats.

In an overall evaluation, Shakib has overseen Bangladesh in a total of 92 games across different formats, achieving victory in 33 matches while facing defeat in 58 instances.

Shakib Al Hasan’s Recent International and National Achievements

In August 2021, he achieved a remarkable feat in men’s T20 International cricket by becoming the first cricketer to both take 100 wickets and score 1,000 runs in this format. Later, on October 17, 2021, during the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match against Scotland, he made history again by becoming the top wicket-taker in men’s T20 Internationals, surpassing Lasith Malinga with his 108th dismissal.

Continuing his impressive performances, on October 24, 2021, he further solidified his position by becoming the leading wicket-taker in T20 World Cup history, surpassing Shahid Afridi with his 40th dismissal. In December 2021, during the 2nd test against Pakistan, he showcased his exceptional skills once more by becoming the quickest all-rounder to achieve 4,000 runs and 200 wickets in test cricket, achieving this milestone in just 59 matches.

Looking ahead to 2023, on March 6, he accomplished another historic feat during the 3rd ODI against England, becoming the first Bangladeshi player to capture 300 wickets in ODIs and securing his place as the third all-rounder to achieve the impressive combination of 6,000 runs and 300 wickets in ODIs.

As of July 18, 2021, he held the distinction of being the third-highest run-scorer for Bangladesh in all formats, amassing a total of 12,070 runs. Notably, on March 18, 2022, during the 1st ODI against South Africa, he achieved his fiftieth half-century in One Day Internationals (ODIs), becoming the second Bangladeshi batsman to accomplish this feat after Tamim Iqbal.

Shakib Al Hasan’s Personal Life and Background

Beyond the cricket field, Shakib Al Hasan is married to Umme Ahmed Shishir, who is of Bangladeshi American descent. Due to his Green Card status, Shakib has the privilege to live and work in the United States. His father, Khondokar Masroor Reza, had a background in football, while his mother, Shirin Reza, is a homemaker. Shakib and Umme Ahmed Shishir have three children. Their first daughter is named Alayna Hasan Aubrey. In April 2020, they welcomed their second baby girl, Errum, and in March 2021, the couple celebrated the birth of their third child, a son.


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