Shakib Al Hasan's Mid-Tournament Return Sparks Hope for Bangladesh

 Amid a turbulent ICC Men's Cricket World Cup campaign, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has made the unconventional decision to return to Dhaka for a mid-tournament break. This move comes as Shakib grapples with a prolonged struggle for form, both with the bat and ball.

Image Source -www.icc-cricket.com

Amid a turbulent ICC Men's Cricket World Cup campaign, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has made the unconventional decision to return to Dhaka for a mid-tournament break. This move comes as Shakib grapples with a prolonged struggle for form, both with the bat and ball.

The decision to head home was prompted by Bangladesh's exit from the qualification race after a devastating 149-run loss to South Africa in Mumbai, marking their fourth defeat in the tournament. Even if Shakib's team manages to win their remaining four games, they will only accumulate a total of 10 points, an insufficient number to secure a spot in the semi-finals.

According to an ESPNCricinfo report, Shakib's return to Dhaka is aimed at intensive training with his mentor, Nazmul Abedeen Faheem, in preparation for Bangladesh's upcoming matches in Kolkata. Shakib's struggles are evident in his statistics, having scored only 54 runs in five matches while taking six wickets with an economy rate of 5.54.

"He arrived today," Faheem said as they discussed their training schedule. We'll be practicing for three days—today, tomorrow, and the next day—before he returns to Kolkata. Today, we concentrated on his batting." This unconventional training situation is rare for a player during a big event, but Shakib's closeness to Dhaka and Kolkata made it a viable alternative.

Also Read: Controversial Lights: Maxwell's Disapproval, Warner's Applause In Cricket Showdown

"Shakib probably feels comfortable working this way," Faheem remarked. I'm not sure what we'll do next; I'll take each session as he desires."

Although Bangladesh's chances of reaching the semi-finals are slim, Shakib's leadership remains crucial for the team's performance. The report indicates that Shakib is set to rejoin the squad in Kolkata on Friday, October 27, just in time for their game against the Netherlands on Saturday. Following this fixture, Bangladesh will face their Asian rivals, Pakistan, at the same venue on Tuesday, October 31.

Shakib Al Hasan's strategic decision to return home mid-tournament reflects his determination to reclaim his form and inspire Bangladesh's resurgence in the World Cup.