Superman Shakib!

HIS FIFTH AND THE MOST MEMORABLE ONE: Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan looks up to the heavens after scoring an authoritative hundred under pressure during the fourth one-day international at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. Photo: Anisur Rahman

How much confidence does it require to come in to bat in a situation where all the signs points to a cautious approach, and rip apart the rule book with a breathtaking piece of skill?
Shakib Al Hasan did exactly that yesterday. Coming in with his side perilously placed at 48 for three, the Bangladesh captain disdainfully flicked the first ball he faced to the square-leg boundary.
Then in a little over 2½ hours of enthralling batting in front of a packed Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Shakib manicured a slippery slope into a majestic mountain that peaked in a series-winning 3-0 lead against New Zealand yesterday.
A fifth one-day hundred followed as he struck eleven boundaries, a six and contributed to three fifty-plus partnerships in the middle of the innings that raised Bangladesh to 241 runs, a total that had 'winning score' tagged over it.
His shots on both sides of the wicket exuded confidence that came through his footwork and placement, none more evident than his nonchalant six over long-on from a length ball by Kyle Mills.
His innings of 106 off 113 balls breathed life into the Bangladesh innings when all seemed to go pear-shaped.
Another critical three-wicket haul and some tremendously well-timed bowling changes later, a parched Shakib Al Hasan had enough strength to raise his arms in glory when the visitors were stopped at 233 in the final over. There was also perhaps a hint of relief; after all, the toughest game of his career was finally over.
"Wasn't it really hot today?” asked Shakib at the press conference.
“It was quite a tough workout in that kind of weather. When I was bowling I thought I would go down with cramps any moment," he said later.
His performance overturned the Kiwis in the most crucial of cricket matches for both countries and yet, Shakib found something as simple as teammates' encouragement as one of the biggest changes in the team's outlook.
“I know I may be missing a few names but when Rokibul, Suhash (Shafiul) and Shuvo encouraged the team during trying times today, I was very pleased.
“This is really a big change for the team as it didn't happen even earlier in this year."
That the 3-0 win for the Shakib-led Bangladesh came against a side like New Zealand was another feather to their cap, a factor that trumps the 3-0 whitewash over an under-strength West Indies last year.
"Of course no win is little for us but definitely it was more competitive against New Zealand and that's why this is a sweeter victory," said Shakib.
He didn't raise the bat when reaching his fifty, in turn raising a few eyebrows but the left-hander said he had unfinished business at that time.
"I didn't raise my bat of course because a lot of work was still to be done.
"Jamie [Siddons] told us that it's fine if we didn't raise the bat and encouraged us to score a century," said Shakib, who added that he was quite sure of his team being a genuine threat in sub-continent conditions.
Lifting his bat was one of many things he had to perform on Thursday and of them, the most crucial was bowling the 49th over of the New Zealand innings when 24 runs were required.
"I was a bit nervous when I was hit for the boundary but then again I knew we could still stop them," he said.
Shakib made a lot of changes that weren't conventional but it was effective. Mainly, it was his decision to give Abdur Razzak the new-ball ahead of Rubel Hossain that could have backfired, but ultimately both bowlers took wickets when it mattered.
"I always knew that Rubel would bowl well with the old ball as he had done that before. So I decided that we give Raj bhai the new ball," he explained.
Throughout his explanations in the media conference that was interrupted with a five-minute long power-cut, Shakib's rasping voice showed how tired it must have been for the 23-year-old captain.
It was demanding on the body, to say the least: 157 minutes of batting and three hours of fielding, bowling and testing captaincy in the extreme, un-seasonal heat of Dhaka.
Shakib proved in the grandest manner possible that he is indeed the most complete all-rounder in present day cricket.