Shakib Won’t Play If He Cannot Bat, Childhood Mentor

Bangladesh ace all-rounder Shakib al Hasan’s childhood mentor Mohammad Salahuddin insisted that if the current across format skipper cannot bat he won’t play cricket anymore.   

Shakib has so far batted just twice at the BPL and did not come out to bat in two games due to eye problem. Shakib’s eye issue had seen him bat at number eight in one of the games.  

However, the left-handed batsman batted extensively at the nets, hoping to get back into the mould of things and work on his batting. 

Comilla Victorians head coach Salahuddin had been seen working with Shakib at Sylhet during the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) to help him get back in business as far as his batting is concerned.

“If he can’t return [with the bat] then he won’t play cricket anymore. I feel that he is still in the field because he can return,” Salahuddin told reporters at Sylhet on Friday.

“When Shakib and I talk, it’s mostly about things outside of cricket. It’s very rare we talk about cricket and talk about our own problems and how to solve them. There is very less talk about cricket. It wouldn’t be right to talk about what we discussed [regarding Shakib’s batting],” he added.

Though Shakib did not bat but he bowled in all four games he has played in the BPL so far. 

Rider’s management insisted that they are not losing their sleep as Shakib could not contribute with the bat for them considering they are happy to have his bowling and brain in the field.