Shakib out, three changes as Tigers bat

A scan done yesterday on ace Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan suggested a Grade 1 strain on his left thigh, placing him in doubt for today’s World Cup match against Sri Lanka at the Bristol County Ground.

Shakib went for a scan yesterday evening, and Bangladesh team technical manager Khaled Mahmud said that it was gathered from an image of the scan that there could be a Grade 1 strain resulting from the injury Shakib sustained during the match against England in Cardiff on Saturday. However, a decision on the severity of the strain and consequently, his availability for today’s match will only be taken once the scan is reviewed by a radiologist in the morning today.

“It looks like a Grade 1 strain,” Mahmud informed yesterday. “We are not yet sure whether he can play tomorrow [Tuesday]. It doesn’t look serious. Shakib was fine yesterday, but seemed to be feeling it more today.”

The team management are also not hurrying into a decision on Shakib as rain is forecast today in Bristol, so the match might be delayed or not take place at all.

“Shakib Al Hasan suffered a left thigh strain while batting during the World Cup match against England. He underwent a precautionary scan today [Monday] in Bristol. We are waiting on a specialist assessment and report,” physio Thihan Chandramohan informed through a press release yesterday.

Shakib, who scored 121 in the 106-run defeat on Saturday and received treatment from Chandramohan early on in his innings at the Cardiff Wales Stadium, was present during team practice but did not bat or bowl at the Bristol County Ground on Monday, which is not an alarming sign as he has been known to take things easy on the eve of a match.

Shakib received treatment from the physio at the end of the eighth over of the innings on Saturday, and while he hobbled during runs for two or three overs after that, he appeared to bat unfettered till he was out in the 40th over. 

Shakib’s lowest score in the three matches so far has been 64 against New Zealand. He is still the highest scorer in the World Cup with 260 runs. He has also taken three wickets, so losing him ahead of a crucial encounter could be a major setback. Having lost two of three matches, Bangladesh will be desperate to get a positive result against a lower-ranked side to keep their race to the semifinals on track.

Liton Das has been one of the more maligned junior national cricketers in Bangladesh, because the perception is that he was wasting his considerable talent with the bat. To watch him play a cover drive and to witness that extra fraction of a second that he has to play the ball is to realise that he could grow to be one of the better batsmen produced by the country. However, seeing him throw away countless good starts with bad shots tempered those expectations considerably.

In the just-concluded Asia Cup, he took up the poisoned chalice of being Tamim Iqbal's opening partner -- a position that no one has been able to make his own despite being given enough opportunities. He scored a 42-ball 43 against Afghanistan in their Super Four game on Sunday, but as seemed typical then, he squandered the start with a wild slog sweep.

In Friday's final against India, Liton moved past all of that with a 117-ball 121 and showed why he has been persisted with. He also proved that, when it comes to possible candidates for the position of Tamim's opening partner, he is the first among equals. If he does make the transition, the innings provided a glimpse into how devastating an opening pair of Tamim and Liton could be.

India's pace attack is a formidable one, and the fiery Jasprit Bumrah had been allowed to settle into his rhythm thus far in the tournament. Liton however displayed that quality that is the bedrock of all batsmen for whom aggression is the modus operandi -- he backed himself to go after the opposition's most feared bowler.

Bumrah bowls above 140 kmph, but Liton repeatedly stepped out to him and hammered boundaries. Bumrah ended his third over, after Liton advanced down the wicket and hit the fast bowler off mid on, having conceded 23 runs. That put the pressure on India's spinners who had thus far come on and benefited from the pacers' economy in their opening spells. Liton took care of that, hitting leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal for big sixes, choosing his areas carefully.

But there was then the typical moment of madness when, just having completed his 50 off 33 deliveries, he went for a wild slog sweep off Kuldeep Yadav. This time, however, he survived as Chahal dropped the catch at mid on.

But what happened then was what will give fans the most hope. Liton saw skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza's chest thump from the dressing room asking him to stay strong, and the youngster responded. He chose to play mostly along the ground, picking areas shrewdly for his boundaries. As wickets started falling at regular intervals at the other end, Liton did not throw it away but actually slowed down to complete his maiden century off 87 balls. He kept batting responsibly before a marginal stumping decision, off a defensive shot, ended arguably the innings of the tournament.

It is early days yet, but if Liton can keep mixing his penchant for dominance with thoughtful batting, it will be an auspicious development for Bangladesh cricket.

Bangladesh ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who is very popular amongst the young people of the country has asked the youths of Bangladesh to help PM Sheikh Hasina in battle for making the country win.

In a two-minute video which became viral on Facebook, Shakib delivered a motivating speech for the youths.

"From 1999 to 2004 we lost most of the 72 matches we played in but we wanted to win because this is not just a game for us, this is our country. This is why we were able to turn things around. Even now when I go to the crease, Bangladesh stands with me," Shakib said in the video.

He urged the youths to think about the country and to feel strongly about its wellbeing. "I am no superman, I am just another son of this land. I know everyone is different in their own ways but in one aspect we are all together and that is our beloved Bangladesh," he continued.

"We call this country our mother but do we think of it the same way that we do about our own mothers? But the country thinks of us and takes care of our good and bad. So it is time to think about the nation now because a country means nothing else but you, me and us," the all-rounder who captained Bangladesh to their biggest Test win yesterday against the West Indies said in the video.

"Current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who lost all her family members is trying to make the country win. Bangladesh is her family now. She is working for the good of everyone, especially the youths. She has enacted policies to build an abundant Bangladesh. I need your active participation. My belief is that when we stand up, Bangladesh won't lose because youths are the future. Now it's your turn," the Test and T20 skipper concluded.