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Shakib, who will turn 31 in March, is more matured and experienced compared to his last tenure as captain and after receiving the Test captaincy, Shakib vowed to improve in the longest format. “It’s a new responsibility. We have been playing well in Test in the last few years. We have won Tests against Sri Lanka, Australia and England at home. So our aim is to improve as a Test team from this point. It’s tough to say how much change will come at first. But it’s important to adjust to the situation first,” said Shakib in his immediate reaction after being named skipper. “We have some senior players in the squad who are leaders. And we often take decisions together. It’s not important who remains captain or not. When we start playing on the field, everyone’s assistance will be required. And [Mahmudullah] Riyad bhai has been captaining his side brilliantly in BPL in the last few years. He has had leadership quality for many years now. So I think my task will be made easy as he is the vice-captain,” he added. This is the not the first time Shakib will lead Team Bangladesh. Shakib was previously handed the captaincy in 2009 during Bangladesh’s tour of the West Indies after Mashrafe got injured in the first Test. Later, Bangladesh won the second Test to clinch the series 2-0 against the Windies. The Tigers played eight more Tests under Shakib’s captaincy, losing all of them. Shakib lost his captaincy in 2011 after the Zimbabwe series where Bangladesh lost the one-off Test and the ODI series 2-3. When queried about his previous captaincy experience, Shakib answered promptly and said light-heartedly that he has forgotten those incidents.
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“I don’t know what happened last time (smiles). What happened? It’s all right. Many things happen in life. I will definitely try to fulfill my duty as captain in the best possible way," said Shakib. Bangladesh have changed in the last few years in term of performance and attitude. Eight years ago, when Shakib took over the captaincy, he was the key performer of the team. There were not many match-winners around him at that time. But times have changed. Bangladesh cricket has changed. Now Bangladesh have many performers in the squad. The Tigers can even win matches without Shakib or Tamim Iqbal. No doubt a positive sign for Bangladesh cricket. So this time around, Shakib can lead the side with less pressure. Now the challenge for him is to unite the team under one umbrella. He also needs to maintain the bridge between senior and experienced players and junior and talented players. Shakib knows what he has to do. Let’s hope he can help Bangladesh become a great side in Test and T20I. “Obviously it will be easier this time. Nowadays almost every cricketer is performing consistently. When players perform, captain’s job becomes easier. I hope everyone will perform. When everybody performs, ultimately the team are benefited,” he said. Shakib recently sat at the Marylebone Cricket Club’s World Cricket Committee meeting as a representative from Bangladesh. That’s a great honour for him and also for Bangladesh cricket as this is the first time a Bangladeshi has attended such a prestigious event. Shakib was added to the elite list in October last year with the other three new members – former West Indies all-rounder Ian Bishop, umpire Kumar Dharmasena and New Zealand women's cricketer Suzie Bates. Chairman of the MCC’s WCC, Mike Gatting earlier praised Shakib’s inclusion to the Committee and hoped Shakib will bring valuable contribution. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rxA3gZcnOA And so, Shakib passed a brilliant 2017 as a player. Now fans are hoping for an equally brilliant Shakib as a captain in 2018 and in the following years. Good luck, Shakib!Did you know?Shakib is the first ever Bangladesh cricketer to be inducted into the Marylebone Cricket Club’s World Cricket Committee. Shakib in 2017Test batting665 runs (14 innings at an average of 47.5)Test bowling29 wickets (14 innings at an average of 33.37)ODI batting430 runs (12 inn, ave 35.83)ODI bowling6 wickets (12 inn, ave 49.5)T20I batting64 runs (4 inn, ave 16)T20I bowling6 wickets (4 inn, ave 17.16)Note – Shakib finished the year as the Tigers’ second highest run-scorer and highest wicket-taker in Test. Shakib ended as the Tigers’ third highest run-scorer and fourth highest wicket-taker in ODI. Shakib finished as the third highest run-scorer and highest wicket-taker in T20I.
