'It is a very big achievement' - Head coach Chandika Hathurusingha extols Shakib Al Hasan as latter scales 7000-run mark in ODIs

Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha lavished praise on veteran star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan after the player attained an impressive milestone. Notably, Shakib became the third player to score 7,000 runs and scalp 300 wickets in the ODI format.

The 35-year-old scaled the impressive feat during Bangladesh’s first ODI match against Ireland. With this, Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha stated that the Bangladesh cricketer could have aggregated massive number of runs had he played in conditions like England, Australia, or India.

"Shakib (Al Hasan), I know playing in Bangladesh most of the time, and earlier, playing against other teams who had better bowling attacks (than Bangladesh), which is not the case now, at least not for the last five to six years, but maybe when you were starting (in your career), it's not easy,” Hathurusingha was quoted as saying by The Daily Star.

"And the other thing is, to score a lot of runs here is not easy. If you had played somewhere in England, Australia, or India, it would have been 10,000 or 12,000 runs for your talent. This is a very big achievement, well done,” he added.

Bangladesh continue their winning momentum

It is worth noting that the Bangla Tigers are relishing a tremendous run in the international arena with back-to-back wins. The side clinched a series sweep 3-0 against England in the recently concluded T20I series and are 1-0 up in the ODI series against the Irish side.

The Bangla Tigers were on the cusp of registering a consecutive win against Ireland in the second ODI match courtesy of a scintillating ton by Mushfiqur Rahim. The flamboyant batter slammed the fastest century off 60 balls and recorded Bangladesh’s highest total in ODIs with 349 runs in their 50 overs.

However, a washout snatched Bangladesh’s chances of taking an unassailable lead in the three-match series. In any case, the side will be raring to clinch the series in the forthcoming game as they square off at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Thursday, March 23.