‘Didn’t think it would turn out like this’ – Shakib Al Hasan after Bangladesh’s 0-2 series defeat

Shakib Al Hasan has said that the Bangladesh team has the ability to bounce from adversity, after their first series whitewash at home in nine years. The home side lost the Dhaka Test by 17 runs against West Indies, after already losing the game in Chattogram by three wickets.

It led to stinging criticism led by BCB president Nazmul Hassan who didn’t mince his words in a press conference shortly after the Dhaka defeat.

Shakib, who missed part of the first Test and the entirety of the second Test due to a thigh injury, said that Bangladesh has come out of similarly difficult situations in the past.

“It is definitely a difficult time for us, but we have had such times before,” Shakib said at a private event in Dhaka on Monday. “We have worked together in the past to get out of such situations, and I believe we can do it again. I believe we have the ability. We have got out of such situations before. A couple of good results will change the scenario. We wouldn’t be talking about anything if we had scored the 17 runs yesterday.

“Nobody wants to lose in any sport. We didn’t think it would turn out like this. We beat their full-strength side in the previous tour. Everything was okay till the fourth day of the first Test. Our bad phase started from the fifth day.”

Shakib said that like all team managements, the Bangladesh one also takes winning decisions but it sometimes doesn’t work out. “There’s no right or wrong decision in cricket. Every decision is taking by players, captain and the team management thinking of a win,” he said. “If we would’ve won, you wouldn’t have asked these questions, but you have a job to ask questions even then. I think everyone has a responsibility,” he said.

Shakib also explained why he needed the break for the tour of New Zealand, which he said was partly due to his injury and partly because his wife is giving birth to their third child.

“It will take me six to eight weeks to recover from the injury, which means there’s a good chance that I will miss the New Zealand tour. If it takes me six weeks, I might make it to the T20I series, but there’s a personal reason for asking for the leave.

“We are going to have our third child, which is exciting for both of us,” he said. “I must be next to my wife. More importantly, the Covid-19 situation in the US is pretty bad. Only the husband is allowed in the hospital, so I must be with her.”