Roads join in Chittagong

It was in a BKSP camp in Narail where Shakib Al Hasan first met Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. Back then Shakib was a mere member of the 20-player group selected from the division, while Mashrafe, who had gone there to see the players train, was already considered as the next big thing.

Years on, both players have gone on to mould their respective places in the national side. They may have begun playing international cricket at different times; they may vary quite a bit when it comes to their cricketing attributes, but it's the one common aspect that they have that has helped redefine Bangladesh's cricket in the last one year; their aggressive mindset.

Both aggressive players of the game, the Mashrafe-Shakib combination has worked wonders and it was therefore fitting to see them both break the 200-wicket barrier in the third and final ODI against South Africa in Chittagong yesterday.

That both the players enjoyed the coincidence was evident from the way they celebrated after Mashrafe got the dangerous David Miller caught at point in the 30th over. After Sabbir Rahman completed the wicket with a diving catch, Mashrafe ran all the way towards Shakib and hugged him. They were all smiles.

Mashrafe, who got his first 100 wickets in 78 matches, took an extra ODI, 79, to scalp the next 100.

Shakib was the first one to reach the mark yesterday. He could have reached the landmark in the India series, but he managed to get just three out of the five required wickets. And after he went wicket-less in the first two ODIs against South Africa, there were fears amongst his fans that the left-armer would not be able to break the 200-wicket barrier, considering the fact that there was just one more ODI to go.

However, all those concerns were laid to rest when one of his turners got the slightest of edges off the bat of Hashim Amla in the 14th over and was devoured by Mushfiqur Rahim.

A player who isn't concerned much about the numbers; there wasn't any special celebration from Shakib. But that by no means depleted the magnanimity of his achievement.

Not only is he just the second Bangladeshi player to break the 200-wicket barrier, after Abdur Razzak, but also he became the seventh player to score 4,000 runs and take 200 scalps.

The list he has joined contains the names of Sanath Jayasuriya, Jacques Kallis, Shahid Afridi and a number of other successful all-rounders. Shakib is also the fastest to score 4,000 runs and scalp 200 wickets. He achieved the feat in 156 matches. The next best is New Zealand's Chris Cairns, who achieved the feat in 214 matches.

Shakib made a slow start to his career with regards to his bowling. It took him 50 matches to scalp his first 50 ODI wickets. The frequency of wickets gradually improved once he got the hang of it. His next 50 wickets came off 38 matches. And finally, the last 100 scalps came in 68 matches.

The three wickets that he took yesterday took his overall tally of scalps in Bangladesh to 123. He is now the highest wicket-taker in the country.