Shakib switched on

Bangladesh ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who is very popular amongst the young people of the country has asked the youths of Bangladesh to help PM Sheikh Hasina in battle for making the country win.

In a two-minute video which became viral on Facebook, Shakib delivered a motivating speech for the youths.

"From 1999 to 2004 we lost most of the 72 matches we played in but we wanted to win because this is not just a game for us, this is our country. This is why we were able to turn things around. Even now when I go to the crease, Bangladesh stands with me," Shakib said in the video.

He urged the youths to think about the country and to feel strongly about its wellbeing. "I am no superman, I am just another son of this land. I know everyone is different in their own ways but in one aspect we are all together and that is our beloved Bangladesh," he continued.

"We call this country our mother but do we think of it the same way that we do about our own mothers? But the country thinks of us and takes care of our good and bad. So it is time to think about the nation now because a country means nothing else but you, me and us," the all-rounder who captained Bangladesh to their biggest Test win yesterday against the West Indies said in the video.

"Current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who lost all her family members is trying to make the country win. Bangladesh is her family now. She is working for the good of everyone, especially the youths. She has enacted policies to build an abundant Bangladesh. I need your active participation. My belief is that when we stand up, Bangladesh won't lose because youths are the future. Now it's your turn," the Test and T20 skipper concluded.

Bangladesh's ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan's abilities with the bat and ball are well known and while those attributes overshadow his abilities on the field, his sharpness on the field cannot be looked down upon. Having injured his little finger on the left hand during this year's tri-series final against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh's Test and T20 captain has been suffering and pulled out of the Asia Cup mid-way through the tournament. Currently recuperating from injury, he has returned to training and Bangladesh's fielding consultant Ryan Cook said that Shakib, despite still having issues with his finger, is showing great attitude while fielding.

Shakib was included in the squad for the first Test against West Indies, scheduled for November 22 and Bangladesh are training in preparation for the upcoming Tests. Shakib had previously started doing light batting sessions and today took catches on the field at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram.

"I didn't see any of the high catching, because I was doing the cover catching and he took the catches fine. And he's got a great attitude so it always helps that he goes for the ball all the time," said Ryan Cook indicating that Shakib is not being daunted by fear while fielding.

It is that kind of attitude that Tigers will require when they face tough challengers West Indies having dropped a couple of catches against Zimbabwe in the second Test at Dhaka. Cook hails from South Africa, who were the trend setters of excelling in the field. He admitted that Bangladesh still does not have someone to look up to as an idol in the field. But skipper Mashrafe Mortaza took an outstanding catch during the Asia Cup while Taijul Islam also took a breathtaking catch against Zimbabwe in the second Test. Those are instances of Bangladesh excelling in the field and Cook felt that the current crop of Bangladesh players will be the heroes that future cricketers from the country will look up to as their Jonty Rhodes and Hershcelle Gibbs.

"I have been very impressed with the Bangladesh attitude to fielding. The progress and improvement that the guys have made have been outstanding. So there is no real difference in attitude. The standards of the fielding – in South Africa we've got a lot of players one can aspire to: Jonty Rhodes and Herschelle Gibbs, whereas these players are the aspiring players, so we just need to get them better and better," Cook concluded.

When an injured Shakib Al Hasan left for Australia for treatment on his infected left little finger, the anxiety on his face was clearly visible but when he returned yesterday there was a big smile on his face as he walked out of the Hazrat Shahjalal International airport in Dhaka.

The all-rounder had good news for his fans and the country's cricket as he said that his infection is under control but needed monitoring. He was expected to be back to playing within the next three months so that he can test whether cricketing activity causes pain to the injured finger that he hurt in January and which forced him to return home midway through the recent Asia Cup in the UAE.

"The update is good as the infection is under control but I have to monitor that through blood tests every week to know whether it [infection] increases or if there are any other issues. But so far, the infection is under control," Shakib told reporters yesterday.

The 31-year-old however informed that there is no possibility of undergoing surgery in the next six to 12 months, adding that the best outcome would be to be able to play without surgery.

"If there is any infection in the bone then there is no possibility of that going away with medication since antibiotics travel through the blood and it won't travel to the bones. For sure there won't be any surgery for the next six to 12 months. Whether it's me or the physio [Thihan Chandramohan], we are thinking about the ways in which it would be possible to play without a surgery," he said.

There were concerns about whether Shakib would be able to recover before the next World Cup in England next year. The champion all-rounder informed that there is no set time frame for his recovery and that it might take a month or even six months to fully recover.

"This is such a problem that there is no time frame as I may be able to play after a month as there is no pain and I am feeling much better. It's important for me to regain the strength in my hand and I will be able to return through rehabilitation soon. And if the strength comes I will be able to return in the next month. But if the pain reoccurs after the rehabilitation then I have to wait for surgery.

"It's a bit uncertain but the good thing is that the infection has subsided. So it's possible to play without surgery now and if that happens that would be the best option. But it's tough to confirm it as it might take a month or even six months. I hope that I will be able to play after a month. But still, as there is a matter of gaining strength it won't be possible before that and it may take more than a month," said Shakib.

The all-rounder once again informed that the injured finger will never be hundred per cent fit again but added that it is not like he would not be able to play cricket with it.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hasan said yesterday that Test skipper Shakib Al Hasan should not return to cricket unless he has fully recovered from a left little finger injury and that it is not absolutely important for him to feature in the third Test in New Zealand from February 16. Hassan also revealed, speaking after the Dhaka Premier League T20 final, that Shakib could be in New Zealand ahead of the third Test.

Shakib missed the ODI series and the first Test in New Zealand because of the injury sustained in the Bangladesh Premier League final on February 8. Hassan also gave a positive update about Mushfiqur Rahim, who missed the first Test because of finger and wrist injuries sustained during the ODI series. According to the BCB boss, Mushfiqur said that he was feeling okay and wanted to play the second Test from March 8.

"Shakib said that he would go to play the third Test. Before I left for an ICC board meeting in Dubai, he said that he was eager to play in this league [DPL T20] to get some match practice before leaving. I thought that if he can play in this league then he could play the second Test. But if not, his health is important. I heard he underwent a test yesterday and was prescribed a further seven days' rest. I don't think it's absolutely necessary for him to play the third Test because the World Cup is coming. We want him to recover fully before returning."