Veteran Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has revealed that there is uncertainty regarding his future in Test cricket, and also made it clear that it would be “close to impossible” to be able to continue in all three formats, especially after the pandemic, given the advent of the bio-bubble culture that has become the norm in modern-day cricket.
Shakib also said that he would like to pick and choose the ODIs that he plays, and that he would like to entirely forgo those games that aren’t a part of the ODI Super League.
As it stands, Shakib has already opted out of Bangladesh’s Test series against the Black Caps, which starts on January 1, citing family commitments. Although his decision faced backlash initially, the BCB eventually relented, allowing him to skip the series. Since Bangladesh’s 2017 tour to South Africa, he has regularly taken time off from Test cricket in particular, although it is important to note that he was also serving a one-year suspension between October 2019 and October 2020.
“The time has come for me to think about Test cricket. This is the fact: whether I will play Tests or not.
And even if I do, how I will play the format. I also need to consider if I need to participate in ODIs where no points are at stake.”
Shakib said in an interview with Bangla channel NTV.
With Bangladesh eager to secure a spot in the Super 12 stages of the 2023 World Cup via an automatic qualification, they will definitely be counting on the senior members of their side, including Shakib, Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal, and Mahmudullah, who recently announced his retirement from Test cricket. The Bangla Tigers are also a part of the World Test Championship. However, the talismanic all-rounder Shakib Al Hassan has played very little cricket in the competition.
Shakib, however, quashed rumours that he prioritised limited-overs cricket over Test matches while also hinting at a possible retirement from the shortest format post the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.
“I am not saying I will retire from Tests. It might even happen that I stop playing T20Is after the 2022 T20 World Cup. I can play Tests and ODIs. But playing three formats is almost close to impossible. Playing two Tests in 40-42 days is not fruitful.”
he was quoted as saying.
Another Bangladesh virtuoso, Tamim Iqbal, has also employed a similar plan to Shakib, deciding to step back from T20 cricket for the time being, also being unavailable for the World Cup. Nevertheless, Iqbal has not announced his retirement from the format.
The 34-year old Shakib also ascertained the fact that playing during the pandemic has been a difficult task for the players, who face tremendous scrutiny, and are subjected to the mentally exhausting bio-bubble environment. He also stressed on the fact that staying away from family for extended periods has a serious impact on the psychological health of the players.
“It was like living in a jail. It is not like the players roam around a lot during a series. But when you will know mentally that you can’t go out even if you want to, that’s where the problem lies. New Zealand didn’t even send their U-19 team to the World Cup, thinking about mental health.
Coronavirus isn’t going away easily. We have to find out a new way to survive this. I don’t think bio-bubble and quarantine is the best way. When you can’t meet your three little kids regularly, it becomes an unhealthy situation. It affects their growing up.”
Shakib lamented.
