Bangladesh cricket board’s decision of carrying an injured player backfired in a crunch situation as ace all-rounder Shakib al Hasan was forced to opt out against Pakistan in the must-win Super Four game of the Asia Cup.
The left-handed all-rounder had been carrying an injury on the little-finger of his left-hand but the team management insisted on playing him in tournament. As a result Shakib’s finger swelled to the extent that he was unable to hold the bat and had to be kept out of the playing XI in the virtual semifinal against Pakistan at the Sheikh Abu Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. The winner of the match will meet India in the final at Dubai International Stadium on Friday.
The southpaw has been ruled out of the tournament and is to take flight for Dhaka on Wednesday evening. According to Bangladesh team manager Khaled Mahmud the all-rounder will go to Melbourne for surgery.
“He has swelling in the finger and has formed heavy fluid in the injured area. He was not being able to hold the bat for which the team management decided not to play him against Pakistan,” Bangladesh team manager Khaled Mahmud informed the media on Wednesday. Shakib’s unavailability was revealed following the toss in the game.
“Initially it was discussed to send him to New York for surgery but later was decided that he will travel to Melbourne,” added Mahmud.
Shakib’s injury has come as a big setback for the Tigers and the best replacement for the all-rounder has been Mominul Haque - a specialist left-handed top-order batsman - which has dismantled the team balance.
But the bigger concern has been the policy of the management that has forced a key player in the side to be stressed to the limit to the point of breaking down. It was obvious that Shakib was not at his best in the matches he played in the tough desert conditions of UAE in this tournament.
Shakib was sent for a regular check-up to a doctor in Dubai on Tuesday. Though initial assessment suggested the cricketer was fine, but a later reported suggested his fingers had swolen to a state that he won’t be able to hold his bat let alone play a game.
Shakib’s injury was always a big concern and now with his situation worsened, the impact may have negative effects beyond the Asia Cup. As the World Cup 2019 will be staged within a year, the cricketing fraternity is concerned with Shakib as it may be difficult for him to recover and perform in full swing during the big occasion. Many are questioning the wisdom of BCB that may ruin a long-term future in pursuit of an immediate gain.
Shakib had picked the injury back in January at home during the ODI tri-series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Half way into the recovery he was forced to make a comeback at the Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka in March though he was rested during the T20I series against Afghanistan in June.
Shakib however captained the Test side and made important contributions as he played the full series in the Caribbean against the West Indies in June- August amid pain and he felt he needed a surgery for a full recovery. There were occasions when Shakib had to take injection to play matches against West Indies.
Right after his return from the Caribbean, he had cited the importance of an immediate surgery. But the BCB president Nazmul Hasan urged Shakib to be available for the Asia Cup and go for a surgery only after the six-nation tournament, after consultation with him and after Shakib consulted his doctor.
Shakib eventually nodded to the board and the team management’s decision but the ploy was termed questionable. Unfortunately for Shakib and Bangladesh the worry came true as he broke down completely.
Shakib is not the only victim of injuries in the ongoing Asia Cup as Tigers’ fate is facing some shattering blows. It had started by the loss of opener Tamim Iqbal to the a fractured left index finger right during the side’s first game of the tournament followed by Mushfiqur Rahim missing the group match against Afghanistan due to a sprained rib.
