Sports Desk:

It was an optional training session for Bangladesh ahead of their last Super Eight clash of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup against Afghanistan.

Usually in these optional training sessions, only some cricketers have a go in the net but that had not been a regular case with all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan as he likes to spend these times away from cricket.

However, that was not the case on Monday as Shakib decided to train and leave no stone unturned preparation-wise ahead of the crucial game against Afghanistan.

Bangladesh have only mathematical chances to reach the last four as they are all but out of the semifinal race following their losses in the opening two games respectively against Australia and India.

Whether the poster boy of Bangladesh cricket is getting ready for a perfect T20 World Cup swansong is a question for the future but many inside the country’s cricket fraternity point fingers at the recent development that suggests the most influential character in the Bangladesh dressing room certainly seemed not to have the same kind of grip over his teammates and others, if not anything else.

The all-rounder is known for calling spade a spade. In the past, his honest admission put him into trouble on a lot of occasions but probably it was the first time he looked out of place while admitting that he was not discussed about the decision of fielding first after winning the toss against India.

Whenever Shakib is around in the national dressing room, everything is circled around him and he is known to be the man for calling most of the shots if not all of them whether he is leading the side or not.

However, that is not the case this time round in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup and according to a member of the team management, Shakib is not interested in seeing everything and is only focused on adapting to his role without any fuss.

“No no…. Nothing is wrong (as far as Shakib is concerned),” an official accompanying the team in the World Cup told The   recently.

“He (Shakib) doesn’t interfere unless was asked for anything. He is also not bothered about the toss. He adapts without any fuss,” he added.

Following the revelation by the team management member regarding Shakib’s present state, questions can be raised regarding having similar importance in the dressing room which he used to get earlier.

Shakib is undoubtedly one the best cricketing brains this country has ever produced and his input can be extremely valuable for his teammates going forward in the competition.

However, members of the team management led by head coach Chandika Hathurusingha along with skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto should be asking for his suggestion as often as possible to get the most out of his sleeves though that hardly looked to be the case in the ongoing T20 World Cup.

Shakib’s childhood mentor Nazmul Abedin Fahim, who had known him since his childhood days at BKSP where he went at an early age to learn the trade of cricket, said that he was surprised to see his blue-eyed student stating that he is not part of the decision-making group.

“It was certainly surprising to hear that he is not in the decision-making group that is run by the team’s think tank,” said Fahim.

“Shakib is someone who will not go and give his suggestion because he is not that type but if he is asked for any kind of advice, he never shies away. The question is whether they asked him for his inputs or not and if that is not the case I feel the think tank believed that they are equipped enough to take all the decisions on their own,” he said.

“I feel the amount of experience he has, he should have been utilized by the leader of the team along with others because if that is not the case, Bangladesh will suffer more than anyone else,” he added.

Earlier, before the start of the tournament, Shakib indicated that he might play another T20 World Cup which created quite a buzz as he earlier insisted that he would like to retire after the Champions Trophy next year.

“I am not sure whether it is my last or not (World Cup). Anything can happen at any time in this world. The decision will be taken by the board and I will also have some personal decision (to make).  This is not something to discuss here and it can be discussed in the coming days,” Shakib said when his attention was drawn to reveal his international career plan on Saturday.

Whether Shakib, who played in all the editions of the T20 World Cup so far, will end his journey in the global tournament with the Super 8 game against Afghanistan today is a matter for the future but if Bangladesh eye ending their World Cup campaign on a high, the experienced campaigner needs to deliver with his brain besides bat and ball.