Shakib granted short break from Tests

[Trichromatic]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/20666752/shakib-al-hasan-granted-short-break-tests

 

Quote

The BCB has granted Shakib Al Hasan the break he had requested from Test cricket, but for a shorter duration than the six months he had asked for. Shakib will be allowed to rest during Bangladesh's tour of South Africa, which begins later this month, though Akram Khan, the BCB's cricket operations chairman, has said he has the option of playing the second Test, "if he wants".

"Shakib wrote a letter to us asking for a six-month break," Akram said. "He can miss the first Test against South Africa but if he wants, he can play the second Test. He will not be traveling with the team but he can tell us what he decides to do."

Akram said that Shakib had made his request in order to prolong his international career. "We can't always be thinking about us," Akram said. "We should also keep his fatigue into consideration."

This will be the first time that a Bangladesh player will voluntarily miss a Test, but Shakib is one of the busiest players in the country's history, with T20 league commitments around the world to go with his international career. The timing of his request is interesting, though, coming soon after one of his greatest performances, when he scored an important half-century and took 10 wickets in a match for only the second time in his career to inspire Bangladesh to their first Test win against Australia.

Shakib has so far played 51 Tests and missed seven - four since becoming a regular member of the side. He had missed two Tests in Sri Lanka in 2013 due to an injury and two more in the West Indies in 2014 due to a suspension.

 

 

[Pollack]

Skipping SA tour? Chicken.

 

[TheWall]

A minnow shows his true color....

[Gollum]

How convenient that he skips a tough overseas assignment to protect his reputation? I told you before, his stats are boosted by minnow bashing 90% of the time, it is an insult to compare him with Stokes, Ashwin or even Moeen Ali for that matter. 

[Trichromatic]

2 minutes ago, Gollum said:

How convenient that he skips a tough overseas assignment to protect his reputation? I told you before, his stats are boosted by minnow bashing 90% of the time, it is an insult to compare him with Stokes, Ashwin or even Moeen Ali for that matter. 

Well he has done well in SA. Took 2 5-fers last time and averages 20 with ball something no other spinner can boast of.

[chewy]

Surely as a top player u want to go to SA to play the best

looks like he slowly might wind down playing tests and focus on limited overs and franchise t20 

makes sense financially

[sandeep]

7 hours ago, Pollack said:

Skipping SA tour? Chicken.

 

Case is there to be made.  Why couldn't he play in a critical tour just as a batsman? Or limit the amount of bowling he does?  There is simply no need to skip these test matches - they are so important for the Bangladesh team.  Its extremely selfish of him to do this.   

 

Problem is that if he plays just as a batsman, and doesn't do well - his personal stats and standing as a "top allrounder" gets impacted.   Unless he's actually injured, there's no defending this utterly self-serving choice made by Shakib.  Looks like this toothless toyger is tucking his tail and turning his back on his team.   @Kriterion @Shamim Miah

[Vilander]

hmm. why is he chickening out.