Shakib is doing everything possible to get his form back: Najmul Shanto

Veteran Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan had a rough time in the middle in the first Test against India at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. In the first innings, the 37-year-old leaked 50 runs in eight overs, while in India’s second innings, he conceded 79 runs in 13 overs. With the bat, Shakib failed to impress as well, scoring 32 and 25 runs in both the innings, respectively. India went on to win the match by 280 runs and being one of the senior-most cricketers in the dressing room, Shakib received his fair share of criticism.

After the game, captain Najmul Shanto defended the cricketer and stated that the all-rounder was doing everything in his power to get back into form. The 26-year-old stated that as a leader, he keeps an eye on the work put in by every player and Shakib’s form seems to be not a problem for him. He also explained the reason for not using Shakib enough in the first innings of the game.

Also Check: Shubman Gill trolls Siraj during first Bangladesh Test

“As a captain, I focus on how much hard work a player is putting into their game. Shakib is doing everything possible to get his form back. Our fast bowlers were doing a great job, and Miraz was also bowling well. We took six wickets quickly, so I didn't feel the need to use Shakib extensively,” Shanto said after the game.

Don't feel comfortable talking about a player's performance: Shanto

Shanto noted that he didn’t want to discuss Shakib extensively as it is a team game and that he is not comfortable talking about one player. He mentioned that the performance of the team is the most important part and if everyone plays collectively, only then the team can lead to victories.

Also Read: India retain same squad for second Test against Bangladesh

“I don't feel comfortable talking about a player's performance. This is a team game, and only a collective team effort leads to winning a match,” Shanto said.