Shakib just may be the world’s best cricketer
If his Wikipedia profile is anything to go by, Shakib Al Hasan is not only the best cricketer in the world right now but potentially the greatest of all time.
“Shakib Al Hasan (born 24 March 1987) is a Bangladeshi international cricketer and statistically the most successful player in the Cricket World’s history,” the page reads.
That’s obviously way off, with Don Bradman and Jacques Kallis among a host of legends with a more legitimate claim to that tag.
But there is an explanation for the Wiki profile writer’s excitement.
In the latest International Cricket Council rankings, released this week, the talented left-handed batsman and left-arm spinner became the first player in history to become the No. 1 all-rounder in all three formats of the game.
Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara is ranked the best Test batsman in the world right now, South African AB de Villiers the best one-day batsman and Indian fireband Virat Kohli the best in Twenty20.
South African paceman Dale Steyn is considered the top bowler in Tests, West Indies’ Sunil Narine is the highest ranked one-day bowler and his countryman Samuel Badree the best in Twenty20.
But the only man to lead all three formats in his field -- and indeed in batting and bowling combined -- is Shakib Al Hasan, which is quite a feat and a considerable claim to being the best cricketer in the world at the moment, writes Australian News.com.au.
While largely unknown to Australian audiences at international level, cricket fans may know Al Hasan from his short Big Bash stints with the Adelaide Strikers last season and the Melbourne Renegades this summer.
Just last night, the 27-year-old took 4-13 in the Renegades’ five-wicket win against the Brisbane Heat. In his three matches so far this season, he has taken seven wickets at just 9.85 with an impressive economy rate of 5.75 -- but is yet to produce with the bat, with a top score of 14.
Initially lauded for his temperament, Al Hasan became the youngest Bangladesh skipper in history in just his second Test at 22 years of age.
But last year he was slapped with a six-month ban for what his country’s cricket board described as a “severe attitude problem”.
His bowling is clever and accurate; his batting aggressive. And his numbers are strong in all three forms, achieving what every all-rounder aims to: a higher batting average than their bowling average. (Check out his stats at the bottom of the page.)
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. 
Critics will argue Al Hasan’s numbers have been so strong because of the level of competition. He has never played Australia in Tests, for example, and five of his past nine Tests have been against Zimbabwe dating back to April 2013, writes News.com.au.
But there is no doubting his world-class status given he has taken Test five-wicket hauls against every nation he has faced since making his debut in 2007, including South Africa, India and England.
He’ll be one to watch at the upcoming World Cup, with Australia facing Bangladesh at the Gabba on Saturday, February 2.
SHAKIB BY THE NUMBERS
TESTS
Matches: 37
Runs: 2529
Batting average: 38.31
100s: 3
50s: 17
Wickets: 140
Bowling average: 31.45
5-wicket innings: 14
10-wicket matches: 1
ONE-DAYERS
Matches: 141
Runs: 3977
Batting average: 34.58
100s: 6
50s: 26
Wickets: 182
Bowling average: 27.92
Economy rate: 4.26
TWENTY20
Matches: 35
Runs: 832
Batting average: 22.78
Strike rate: 128.10
50s: 4
Wickets: 44
Bowling average: 18.90
Economy rate: 6.49
Comments