The return of Shakib al Hasan against Pakistan in the Asia Cup after a three match ban resulted in the 26 year old proving why he is the best player in the Bangladesh side as the total approach of the team changed dramatically.
The left hander went to bat in the 45th over and made his presence felt from the very first ball when he smashed a boundary through point of Mohammad Talha and later in the over, Shakib smashed another boundary this time by a beautiful pull shot as Bangladesh were 276/3 with only four overs remaining.
Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim at the other end was also going good but he preferred to give the strike to Shakib who was in a killing mood as the left hander smashed two fours and a huge six over long off from Saeed Ajmal.
Shakib played his trademark scoop shot to Umar Gul for a boundary in the 48th over and took Bangladesh past 300 by hitting 12 runs off the last three balls of Gul’s last over.
He smashed a pull shot for a boundary followed a brilliant six in the midwicket region and a brilliant straight drive for two runs to take Bangladesh to their highest ever total in the ODI of 326/3, surpassing their previous best of 320/8 against Zimbabwe on 2009.
Shakib remained unbeaten on 44 off just 16 balls smashing six fours and two sixes with Mushfiq scoring 51 off 33 balls, and the pair added 77 runs in 34 balls.
The all-rounder made his mark when he came on to bowl in the fifth over with a maiden and the left arm bowler took the important wicket of Misbah ul Haq when he clean bowled the Pakistani skipper in his fifth over.
The star of Bangladesh was everywhere in the field yesterday as he ran out the dangerous Shahid Afridi in the 47th over when he had a direct hit from cover, after Afridi struck 59 off just 25 balls.
