Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib al Hasan’s performance in the just concluded Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi is a result of professionalism, said Bangladesh Cricket Board director and Shakib’s mentor Nazmul Abedeen Fahim.
Shakib, a former member of the parliament for the fallen Awami League regime, made the headlines in Dhaka after a murder case got filed.
Rafiqul Islam, father of Rubel who got killed during the anti-discrimination movement, filed the case last Thursday at Adabor Police Station.
Shakib is the 28th accused in the case.
Other accused include former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Obaidul Quader and 154 others.
Around 400-500 unidentified persons are also accused.
Later a legal notice was served to the BCB for the immediate removal of Shakib from all forms of cricket.
Shakib however, ensured the situation in Dhaka did not impact his performance in Rawalpindi.
The all-rounder was ineffective with the bat but finished with four wickets in Bangladesh’s historic 10-wicket win over Pakistan.
“I will not say he is mentally strong but the top athletes around the world and in any discipline ensures to put all negatives aside before entering the field. They build themselves this way so that they are not affected by anything else when on the field. It is the same with Shakib,” said Fahim to the media Monday.
Fahim, who emerged as a new BCB director last week along with new board president Faruk Ahmed, also pressed that Shakib has shown improvement, particularly in his performance against left-handers, bowling confidently like a “proper Test bowler”.
“We've seen it in his bowling. We noticed that he doesn't bowl comfortably against left-handers, but we didn't see that yesterday (Sunday). He bowls like a proper Test bowler. When he bowls, he does so with confidence in himself, regardless of the situation with right-handers or left-handers. Whenever the ball is given to him, he bowls to take wickets. He’s also communicating and advising others. He had some dissatisfaction with his bowling, but that's gone now. His confidence has returned, and this will help him in the future,” he added.
