Bangladesh: The Beginning of the End of the Shakib Era

[Kriterion_BD]

The BCB has granted Shakib paternity leave for the NZ white ball tour - which is understandable. But Shakib has requested and received approval to skip the Test tour of Sri Lanka in order to play the IPL (Mustafiz has also been given permission to skip the SL Tests).

The BCB has come out and admitted that it makes no sense to force Shakib to play Tests when he doesn't want to. Shakib is almost 34, and with his family based in the US, he spends most of his free time Stateside. I can't see Shakib playing even 10 more Tests, although he is still making himself available for white ball cricket, and stated in the past his goal is to play up to the 2023 World Cup.

Personally, I think Shakib quitting Tests is a good thing. It opens up room for young players like Mosaddek or Shanto to fit into an XI while Tamim and Mushfiq are still around to guide them. It prevents all the seniors exiting stage left all at the same time.

I think the following lineup should be persisted with and allowed to gel after a long break in Test cricket:

1) Tamim
2) Shadman
3) Shanto
4) Mominul
5) Mushfiq
6) Mosaddek
7) Liton
8) Miraz
9) Taijul
10) Jayed
11) Ebadat

Nayeem, Shoriful, Khaled, and Yasir would be the current backups.

[sam_ahm]

Lost all respect for Shakib, he is either injured or banned or attends the birth of his child, or prefers to play in T20 leagues... Anything but playing for his country works for him.

[Kriterion_BD]

Lost all respect for Shakib, he is either injured or banned or attends the birth of his child, or prefers to play in T20 leagues... Anything but playing for his country works for him.

Disappointing for sure but at this stage BD needs think about what lies beyond the Big 3.

If this was Tamim and Mushy I would be much more upset, but Shakib was never one of my favorite players although I always rooted for him.

[jaybro]

Greatest Bangladeshi cricketer of all time?

[Kriterion_BD]

Greatest Bangladeshi cricketer of all time?

Easily I think. By far the best bowler across formats and one of the best batsmen. Not many true two-in-one players.

He wasn’t even my top 5 favorites tho.

[Bangladeshi_Fan]

Bangladesh are going downhill. Things are quite bad now.