"He is a liability in all 3 departments of the game now" - Fans slam Shakib Al Hasan for first-ball duck in 2024 T20 World Cup clash vs Afghanistan
Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan endured another disappointing outing with the bat in the side's final 2024 T20 World Cup Super Eight game against Afghanistan at St.Vincent on Monday, June 24. Chasing 116 for victory, Bangladesh had to reach the target in 12.1 overs to finish second in the group and qualify for the semi-finals.
However, their chances suffered a damaging blow when Shakib came out to bat at 23/2 and was dismissed on his first delivery. The veteran all-rounder tried to tuck a good length delivery on leg stump but was early on the shot and popped a return catch to the bowler, Naveen Ul Haq.
It was Shakib's sixth score of under 20 in seven innings in the tournament, with a 64* against the Netherlands being the lone exception. The 37-year-old has averaged a dismal 18.50 at a strike rate of 106.73 in seven games of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
The champion cricketer has endured a tumultuous downfall with the willow in T20Is this year, averaging only 16.90 at a strike rate of 106.28 in 12 outings.
Fans on X slammed Shakib for coming up small in such a massive encounter with the following reactions:
Fans continued slamming Shakib for his poor outing with one saying:
"Shakib proving Sehwag right today!!"
"Please remove Shakib if you really want great future of Bangladesh cricket. He has done now," said a fan.
"Shakib needs to put his ego side and just retire, he is a liability in all 3 departments of the game now," a fan tweeted.
Shakib Al Hasan went wicketless with the ball again in the Afghanistan clash
Shakib Al Hasan has also struggled to pick up wickets with the ball during the 2024 T20 World Cup and the trend continued in the Afghanistan clash. He bowled an economical spell but failed to register in the wickets column with figures of 0/19 in four overs.
Shakib has gone wicketless in five of Bangladesh's seven games, including not bowling a single ball in their Super Eight opener against Australia. He has picked up only three wickets at an average of over 43 and an economy of 7.50 thus far in the competition.
Despite his struggles in 2024, Shakib boasts impressive overall T20I numbers with the ball, averaging under 21 at an economy of 6.81 in 129 games.
Shakib's struggles have meant Bangladesh lost their two Super Eight clashes against Australia and India. They are battling away on 46/3 in 6 overs, requiring a further 70 off 84 deliveries against Afghanistan.