Shakib’s role will be taken by whoever gets the responsibility: Shanto
The player who ensured Bangladesh’s spot in the tournament, Shakib Al Hasan, is absent from the squad. Naturally, his absence came up in the press conference.
The official photoshoot is done. Shanto, Miraz, and the team have likely packed their bags. Bangladesh will depart for Dubai on a midnight flight to compete in the Champions Trophy. At a press conference in Mirpur today, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto declared, "We are going with the goal of becoming champions."
The Champions Trophy is the biggest tournament since the ODI World Cup, featuring the top eight teams. But the player who ensured Bangladesh's spot in the tournament, Shakib Al Hasan, is absent from the squad. Naturally, his absence came up in the press conference. It was Shakib's brilliance that helped Bangladesh qualify, especially his match-winning knock against Sri Lanka in the World Cup.
When asked how much they would miss Shakib and who could fill his role, Shanto responded with a counter-question, "I don't understand why this question is still coming up. We all know the answer. Many players have already said it—we will miss Shakib Bhai, and it would have been great if he were here. This question has been answered many times."
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Unwilling to dwell on the matter before such a major tournament, Shanto added, "I don't think discussing this now is logical. But if you ask about that particular match, he batted brilliantly. It was crucial, and that innings helped us win."
When asked who would take over Shakib's role, Shanto gave a short and firm answer: "Whoever gets the responsibility."
Let's rewind to the 2023 World Cup. After a dramatic match against Sri Lanka at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium, Bangladesh had secured their Champions Trophy spot. It was a massive relief. In that moment of triumph, media manager Rabid Imam was informed by Shakib that he had fractured a finger.
Early in his innings against Sri Lanka, Shakib suffered an injury to his left index finger. Despite the pain, he continued playing with painkillers, support tape, and sheer determination. No one watching could tell how serious the injury was. Amid intense sledging from the Lankan fielders following the controversial 'timed out' dismissal of Angelo Mathews, Shakib fought on. He scored 82 off 65 balls, forging a crucial 169-run partnership with Shanto for the third wicket.
After securing victory, Shakib attended the post-match press conference with his fingers taped. It looked routine—players pick up knocks all the time. No one suspected the severity of his injury.
An X-ray later revealed a fracture. While Bangladesh flew to Pune for their next game, Shakib returned to Dhaka with a bandaged hand. His World Cup was over. Given the current situation, it might have been his last ODI for Bangladesh.
Yet, he had done everything to help his team qualify for the Champions Trophy, even at personal cost. He prioritised national pride over reputation. In an OTT interview last June, Shakib had remarked, "If that incident hadn't happened, Bangladesh wouldn't be playing the Champions Trophy today. People talk about ethics, but in crucial moments, ethics take a backseat in Bangladesh. We believe in performative principles."
Despite his immense contribution, Shakib was not considered for the squad due to his bowling suspension. Since his bowling action is under scrutiny, the selectors did not pick him as a specialist batter.
