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sports reporter
Sun May 29, 2022 4:45 PM Last updated on: Sun May 29, 2022 5:39 PM
Shakib after the end of the game on day four during the Dhaka Test. Photo: Firoz Ahmed Archive
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Shakib after the end of the game on day four during the Dhaka Test. Photo: Firoz Ahmed Archive
Spinning coach Rangana Herath is running a four-day spinning camp with 32 spinners to strengthen the spin bowling line. It became apparent that there was a lack of spinners on the periphery of the national team when Bangladesh played the recent Dhaka test against Sri Lanka with four top bowlers despite Shakib Al Hasan being there. Mosaddek Hossain came on as a bowlable batsman and the burden of most of the overs fell on Taijul Islam and Shakib.
Shakib bagged five wickets in the early innings, but without the support of another player other than Taijul, Sri Lanka jumped ahead of the game by putting over 500 on the board. The lack of quality spinners became apparent and, with Shakib at 35, concerns over who might find the mettle to head the spinning department arose.
For the latest news, follow The Daily Star’s Google News channel. However, Herath opined that Shakib still has a long way to go.
“He’s [Shakib] a very experienced guy. You know that he is always up to the task. He only needs to think about the physical form. If he can maintain his fitness levels, he can go very far,” said Herath on Shakib’s continuation with him for Bangladeshi cricket after today’s session at Academy Ground in Mirpur.
Nayeem Hasan’s injury saw Bangladesh play with four specialist pitchers in the Dhaka Test against Sri Lanka and while Shakib opens the door to playing with five pitchers in the Test, injuries to Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Shoriful Islam and Taskin Ahmed did not allow that Bangladesh use five bowlers. When asked about the advantages of these spin camps, Herath said, “If you have an extra spinner as a backup, it will be an advantage for Bangladeshi cricket. For example, now Nayeem got injured and there is no proper spinner. We need to keep a record of the spinners and keep those spinners”.
Rangana Herath during spinning camp today. Photo: Firoz Ahmed
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Rangana Herath during spinning camp today. Photo: Firoz Ahmed
Shakib himself was not bothered by the lack of preparation he had on the ball before the Test series. Having recovered from Covid-19, he underwent just one practice session. He was more focused on training with a purpose rather than spending long hours on the nets.
“I don’t think that after so many years playing I don’t need 10 to 15 days for me, three sessions are enough if I’m playing and if I’m not playing that I need five or six sessions maximum (to prepare) and I don’t need more than that if I’m in For me, training is not important, the important thing is to know if I am doing it with a purpose,” said Shakib after the fourth day of the Dhaka Test after his 19th five wicket. carry in Tests.
For Shakib, fitness and match fitness were two different things. He was confident enough that the fitness he had was going to suffice even in sweltering heat, especially in Chattogram.
“It depends on the fitness of the individual player in what can be called match fit. Match fitness and being physically fit are two things. 8 spells but they don’t cross 10 on the whistle test. There are others who get 10-13 on the whistle test but can’t play five overs in a row. So the definition of fitness is different in different places. I played four matches in the DPL in the heat and that helped me. I knew the first two days in Chittagong were going to be tough for me and then gradually it would get easier. It was all about taking risks. [regarding being able to play] but it was calculating,” Shakib commented when asked about match fitness and long bowling in Tests since returning from Covid-19.
In the dearth of credible replacements, the Bangladeshi team’s management, of course, hopes that Shakib can wisely use his schedule to train with purpose both in terms of fitness and match preparation, to prolong his career.
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