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To question Shakib Al Hasan’s place in the team is very brave, according to Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. The star all-rounder is under scrutiny for both his performances and injury murmurs around him.  

Shakib bowled 21 overs in the Chennai Test and went wicketless by costing 129 runs. This is only the fifth time that he went wicketless in a match where he bowled a minimum of 20 overs. The last time it happened was in 2018 against the West Indies in Kingston. 

Moreover, there’s some murmurs about whether Shakib was fully fit to bowl in the first Test. Murali Karthik, the former Indian spinner on the commentary box, said that Shakib had told him that he got some discomfort in his spinning finger.

And then Tamim Iqbal, who is commentating in this series, questioned whether the team management knew about his injury. 

Later, in the press conference after the completion of the play on the third day, batting coach David Hemp said that they were not aware of anything about Shakib’s injury. 

Shakib came to bowl in the first innings only after the 52nd over. Shanto, while talking to the reporters after the defeat in the first Test in Chennai on Sunday, said that it was a tactical call. 

‘About Shakib bhai’s bowling, all three pacers did great in the first innings. That’s why there was no need to bring him,’ Shanto explained.

‘Miraz [Mehidy Hasan] was bowling well from one side too. This was the plan, the more I could bowl the pacers. And we got six wickets quickly. This was the plan.’

Shakib, who was seen to bite a strap around his neck to stabilise his head position, got the start in both innings. He was, in fact, the top scorer of the team with 32 runs in the first innings. In the second innings, he got 25. 

About the veteran’s performance, Shanto was diplomatic.

‘I don’t feel comfortable talking about individuals because it is a team game. A match can be won by everyone’s contributions. Overall, I want to say that if we all contributed more, then something good could have happened. I am not worried about individuals.’

But later, when there was a question whether Shakib’s place should come into question, Shanto seemed to have been surprised at first. 

He first laughed hearing the question and said, ‘You’ve asked a brave question, mashallah.’

‘As I said, as a captain, I see, and I’m not saying it because he’s Shakib bhai, I see an individual works hard and if he is doing what is needed to make a comeback. I see his intention towards his team. I notice these things,’ he said.

‘I try to see how that cricketer is prepared to give, if he’s prepared to give 100 per cent. Many may think that I’m saying this because he’s Shakib bhai. But that’s not the case. From Nahid Rana to Mushfiq bhai, I try to see the same things.

‘It’s not like if he’s scoring runs or not. What is more important to me is his preparation, how he thinks about the team, and whether he’s preparing to do something good for the team. 

‘After watching these, I’m happy with the 15-16 players who are on the team.’

Shakib, who was a member of the parliament under the Awami League, now has a case filed against him for an alleged murder.

He went to London straight from the Pakistan tour to play a county championship match with Surrey. He then directly joined the national team in India.