IPL 2019: Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan joins Sunrisers Hyderabad

Ace Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan recently missed the tour of New Zealand because of a finger injury. However, his country’s cricket board gave him a no-objection certificate to take part in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019, kicking off Saturday with the condition of properly managing his workload. Shakib shifted to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) last year after spending seven seasons in Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and had a decent show both with the bat and the ball.

Shakib joined his franchise on Thursday and the SRH were happy to welcome one of the best all-rounders of modern-day cricket. The Sunrisers will be playing Shakib’s old team KKR in their opening match of this IPL at the Eden Gardens on March 24, which is also the Bangladeshi cricketer’s birthday. He will turn 32.

Welcoming Shakib, the SRH wrote on their official page on Twitter: “Plenty of experience and an all-around performer. Shakib Al Hasan is not just back, he’s coming with a bag full of tricks! #OrangeArmy #ReturnOfTheRiser.”

Here is SRH’s tweet

Plenty of experience and an all-round performer 🔥@Sah75official is not just back, he's coming with a bag full of tricks! 😎 #OrangeArmy 🧡 #ReturnOfTheRiser pic.twitter.com/RUMzDiYnOW

— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) March 22, 2019

Shakib had most productive IPL season after going to SRH

Shakib was not a regular member of the playing XI during his days in the KKR. It was only in the last year that he played the most number of games in an IPL (17). Overall, Shakib has played in 60 games, scoring 737 runs at an average of 21-plus and strike rate of 127-above. Season-wise, 2018 was his most productive (239 runs in 17 games). He has also taken 57 wickets at an average of around 27 with 14 of them coming last year, which is again his best exploits in a season.

The SRH, who had a fabulous run in the 2018 season, failed to cross the final hurdle as Chennai Super Kings proved to be the better side in the title clash. However, that doesn’t diminish the SRH’s weight and this year, the return of the likes of David Warner will make the outfit even stronger in their batting to complement their superlative bowling attack.

The SRH will hope that Shakib gets to play an injury-free IPL this season as that will boost their chances to win the second title by far.

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