Stand-in Shakib stands tall

Bangladesh stand-in captain Shakib Al Hasan (L) sprints into history in dashing style while his partner in a match-winning fourth wicket stand Rokibul Hasan (R) plays a delicate cut shot on the fourth day of the second Test against the West Indies at the National Stadium in Grenada on Monday. Photo: AFP

When he arrived at the highest level of the game three years back, Shakib Al Hasan didn't make any buzz. But he has grown into a player of stature slowly but surely with every passing game. The 22-year-old baby-faced boy from Magura cemented his place with consistent performances very quickly to become not only the most valuable player for the team but also has achieved the rare feat of becoming the number one all-rounder in the one-day rankings.
There were whisperings whether it was too early to give him the additional responsibility of acting as deputy to Mashrafe Bin Mortaza few days before the Caribbean tour. Interestingly, there was more challenge awaiting the youngster after the regular skipper injured his knee on the third day of the first Test in St. Vincent. And the young man took the opportunity with both hands and without any doubt came out with flying colours to script a new history for Bangladesh cricket after the Tigers achieved their first-ever away series victory since entering the elite club in 2000.
Obviously it is too early to comment anything on his captaincy but the way he led the team from the front in both Tests against the makeshift West Indies team simply made many believe that he has got the potential to become future captain in the team.
Shakib showed the character as a captain what we have been crying for. He provided the must-needed evidence that the captain has to be a performer in the team first and should have the courage to handle the team in difficult situations. And this is the quality which was missing in Mohammad Ashraful and that might have been the reason he looked so nervous while leading the team out in the middle.
One may raise question about the quality of opponents, but the fact remains that it's not an easy task to win a Test match and a series away from home, whoever the opponents are. The batting of the understrength West Indies team might have not been up to the standard, especially the way they faced the spin bowling, but they did have certain quality in their pace bowling.
So, one just can't demur the success of the Tigers and the efforts of their stand-in skipper who, with 13 wickets to his credit and a match-winning knock of unbeaten 96, contributed his part as a player. But as a captain what was encouraging to watch was his courage during a tough phase of the game.
If his bowling at a critical stage in the first Test was brilliant then the way he took the challenge in the second Test with the willow was simply outstanding.
It is the second time that the left-hander has missed his maiden hundred for four runs after his 96-run knock against Sri Lanka in Dhaka last year, but this time he finished off the game to ensure the 2-0 series victory over West Indies.
Rokibul Hasan definitely deserves credit for his well-composed half-century to steady the ship after Bangladesh were wobbling at 67 for four in chase of 215 runs, but it was Shakib who combined aggression with caution to keep the West Indies attack at bay.
The aggressive batting of the left-hander effectively killed the home team's hopes and seized the local bowlers' early initiatives.
Rokibul and Mushfiqur Rahim were dismissed with still 14 runs away from the win but Shakib held his nerve to see the team home and nothing could have been better the way he completed the mission by lofting seamer Kemar Roach over long-on for a six.
Shakib's success as a captain in the two-match Test series added another feather to his growing reputation and definitely brings a new hope in the cricket fraternity.