Virender Sehwag has lashed out at Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan following his dismissal at a crunch point his side's chase yesterday (June 10), which saw the side slump to a narrow four-run defeat against South Africa in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Shakib made three in the run chase of 114 on Monday in New York, falling to a pull shot against Anrich Nortje. On a deck where the side needed a senior player to bat deep, Shakib’s dismissal infuriated Sehwag, who said it was time for the all-rounder to hang up his boots in the format.
The left-hander averages 5.50 in this T20 World Cup, making 11 runs in two games at a strike rate of 61.11. He did not fare well in the last two editions either: In 2021, Shakib averaged 21.83 with the bat, which fell to 8.80 a year later. He also struck at 95.65 in 2022.
Overall, Shakib’s T20I numbers remain underwhelming. In 46 innings since the start of 2020, he averages 22.10 at a strike rate of 117.39, with his last half-century in 2022. He has picked up 54 wickets, with an average of 20.90 in this period, but Sehwag reckons that his batting form is not suited to the T20I format.
Speaking on Cricbuzz he said: “I knew in the last World Cup that his time is up in the T20I format. The train is well past the platform. He doesn’t have impressive stats. He is a senior player, and has been a former player - his numbers should embarrass him. He should say, ‘I am retiring from the T20I format’.
He narrated a personal experience, saying how he told the selectors he would focus on ODIs and Test cricket and give up playing the T20 World Cup after realising his reflexes had slowed down during the 2012 T20 World Cup. “During the Sri Lanka T20 World Cup, I realised I couldn’t hit Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel or another left-armer from Afghanistan at will. I told the selectors not to pick me in T20Is going forward and that I would want to focus on ODIs and Tests. At the end of the day, you know whether you are batting and bowling well. If you cannot contribute, then why are you playing?
“I fell, Shakib’s time was up long ago. If they have brought him for experience, it’s not showing results. Spend some time on this wicket. You are not Matthew Hayden or Adam Gilchrist that you are pulling. You are from Bangladesh, so play accordingly. The hook and pull isn’t your shot, then why play it?”
Sehwag also stated that Bangladesh could have played a youngster in Shakib’s place in the team, helping him earn experience for the future. “I feel if the results aren’t coming. Better lose with a young team. At least they will get experience. You bring experienced bowlers in the squad so that they take care of the team’s atmosphere, or they will use that experience to bat or bowl well, or to send down dot balls. I haven't seen anything like that from Shakib. I don’t think after this World Cup, he should play or that he should be played.”
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