Shakib’s captaincy to define how deafening is the Tigers’ roar

It was a curious innings from Shakib Al Hasan in March last year against South Africa that led Bangladesh to a momentous win in the first ODI of the bilateral series at Centurion. During a 64-ball 77, Shakib tactically outmanoeuvred South Africa, starting his hitting way earlier than expected. In fact, he did it in the middle overs. The innings, apart from contributing to a win that day, and an ensuing series win later, was a precursor to a much-needed change of approach. Shakib, perhaps, was showing how to go against the grain of what the usual approach was and turn what looked like a 280-score at first into a 300-plus one.

What are the factors that can facilitate a change of style so that Bangladesh are able to add more runs to the scoreboard?

To be more attacking means players being able to express themselves. On one hand, the leadership has a key role in communicating how and when the batters can be aggressive. On the other hand, a congenial dressing room environment also has a part to play in players being able to express themselves.

Effecting that change in style is an important discourse in Bangladesh cricket because of the way the Bangladesh ODI side have been trying to transform themselves over the last one-and-a-half years. But the Tigers now have a new captain in Shakib after Tamim Iqbal stepped down following his retirement saga after a fairly successful stint.

Merely a 24-year-old when he captained in the 2011 World Cup, Shakib now has become a much more mature player and a veteran in the side. His impact as a captain may have to be judged from recent years rather than the chaotic times of 2011.

Will Shakib go aggressively in driving the team towards that playing style which may have an important effect on the team's World Cup ambitions? Only time can tell but the T20I side's recent changes under Shakib might shed some light on whether a change in approach has been seen in the shortest format.

From the start of 2021 till August 2022 -- before Shakib took over -- the highest strike-rate for an individual batter who had played at least 16 games for Bangladesh was 117.46, attained by Afif Hossain in his 33 innings. 340 fours and 113 sixes came from the bat of Bangladesh batters in 35 games during that period. The average strike-rate of batters during that period was 110.5.

In 21 matches since Shakib was made captain, the average strike-rate of batters went up to 126.

279 fours and 83 sixes have also come in these 21 games. Individual strike-rates soared, with Liton Das attaining a strike-rate of 141.6 in 19 matches during this period. Average boundaries hit per match went from 12.9 up to 17.2 following Shakib's captaincy.

These statistics speak of a significant increase in run-scoring tempo of the batters. Anyone familiar with Bangladesh's T20 fortunes knows that this recent change in tempo might have been a difficult one to effect.

England have now successfully been able to implement a 'Bazball' philosophy, especially by giving freedom to their batters.

"We want to create an environment where everyone has the freedom to try things without fear. I know it hasn't always been that way, even though we've always had the ability. We want our guys to feel that clarity and confidence from us: We picked you because you're the best in the country at what you do. Hold nothing back. Express yourself. Show us what you can really do," England's Test captain Ben Stokes wrote in a Players' Tribune column in June this year.

Freedom has been a difficult concept to grasp in Bangladesh cricket. If freedom is what one wants to imbue, who better than Shakib to do it? During the aforementioned period of his captaincy, Shakib led by example with a strike-rate of over 131, the second-highest amongst Bangladesh batters who played at least 10 innings.

Since Chandika Hathurusingha's arrival, the ODI team has stepped on the pedal too, putting up big scores. The approach in the middle overs, with Shakib, Tawhid Hridoy, and Mushfiqur Rahim forming the core, has been one focused on acceleration.

An approach, especially one that is aggressive, will have to be shown with the bat, ball, and in the field. What are the things Shakib will have to convince the others to do?

"Shakib will make sure that the feeling of ownership courses through the side. He will give the individuals that space and create opportunities for everyone to get credited. He will have to make everyone feel their importance in the side. With these, everyone's sense of responsibility will increase and they will take actions on their own for the betterment of the team," Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, cricket analyst and mentor to many national team stars, opined.

"A captain's playing philosophy has to make an impression on the team and it will come. The players we have right now, Shakib's thought-process goes very well with them. Look at Tanzid Tamim, [Najmul Hossain] Shanto, Tawhid Hridoy, or Shakib himself or how Mushfiqur [Rahim] is playing at the moment, Shamim Hossain or even Afif [Hossain]; they play a similar type of cricket. Even Ebadot [Hossain], Hasan [Mahmud] or Taskin [Ahmed] have it," Fahim explained.

"When everyone develops a sense of responsibility, they own the team and take responsibility to prepare themselves too. They become thinking cricketers, a kind of thinking that only a captain or a coach used to do. The players start thinking and become more educated. They do something because they know what they are doing. When someone knows what they are doing, the effect is much bigger," Fahim said, regarding creating a sense of responsibility throughout the team.

The pace unit, with recent performances, has earned its freedom in particular. The way Mushfiqur has flourished in a new role is commendable too.

The skill is there in the side. The experience of playing ODIs would come in handy. But following the Afghanistan series, the template now must be set from the Asia Cup. A big hurdle but also an opportunity for Shakib to make that impression.