‘Pain-free’ Shakib urges for patience
Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan said his side "still harbour the dream" of an ICC World Cup semi-final as they aim to face their fifth hurdle of the showpiece event in India.
After four matches in the ongoing ICC World Cup and three consecutive defeats, Shakib faced the media for the first time during the mega event.
The Bangladesh skipper appeared confident in the pre-match press meet ahead of his side's crucial game against an in-form South Africa at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. The ace all-rounder in his fifth World Cup appearance had also cleared confusion over his injury status.
Having undergone a high-intensity running session yesterday, Shakib – who sustained a thigh injury against New Zealand on October 13 and went on to miss Thursday's India fixture -- informed that he is expected to be fit for today's game.
"If there's no problem with running, I can play tomorrow (today). I wasn't 100 per cent before the India game. It was also important that I don't risk the rest of the World Cup. I am in good shape now. I am pain-free. I have to test myself," said Shakib.
Although the Tigers will be under tremendous pressure to keep their hopes alive in order to progress beyond the group stage, Shakib reckons his side still have a chance at making it to the top-four.
"We still harbour the dream (reaching semi-final). Other teams are helping us also, so if we can help ourselves, it can happen. We still have the chance on paper. Let's finish this campaign first and then you can whole-heartedly feel disappointed," said Shakib.
Shakib gave the impression that the Tigers are not intimidated by South Africa's current form, especially on the batting front, given the way they humbled defending champions England in their previous game at the same venue. He feels that every game brings a new challenge for the teams in a stage like the World Cup.
"If we can all bowl, bat and field together, we can do something good. We believe that if we play our best cricket in ODIs, we can win against any team," he added.
Bangladesh's pace-bowling unit has not been able to live up to their expectations in the tournament so far. Moreover, pace spearhead Taskin Ahmed has already been ruled out of the South Africa clash as he continues to nurse a shoulder injury.
Shakib feels that the seamers have a huge role to play since he feels the spinners will have a tough time, considering the dimensions of the Wankhede Stadium.
"They (pacers) probably haven't done well in all four games, in terms of partnerships or their bowling figures. I am not too disappointed as I felt they did well but they were slightly unlucky. I think the whole team has to take a step up.
"It (Wankhede Stadium) is a high-scoring ground. Still, we are planning to restrict them for a lower total. We are taking inspiration from how the Netherlands restricted them. We have been looking at their weaknesses from the last one or two years," said Shakib, adding that winning the toss will be crucial for both teams since Mumbai's extreme heat and humidity are expected to play a big role in deciding that game's outcome.
Statbox:
*South Africa hold a significant advantage in matches won against Bangladesh as they have 18 wins to the Tigers' six in 24 meetings.
*In World Cups however, the two sides are at an even 2-2 tie, with Bangladesh handing out the latest blow with a 21-run win in the 2019 edition of the tournament. The Tigers' other win over the Proteas in the tournament came in 2007.
*Bangladesh have lost the only match they've played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, while South Africa have won two and lost three in five outings at the venue.
*Shakib Al Hasan has featured the most number of times in Bangladesh-South Africa encounters, having played in 17 of the 24 matches.
*Amongst active players, Shaib has taken the most wickets against South Africa with 16 scalps at an economy rate of 4.66, while South Africa's Kagiso Rabada tops the charts in Bangladesh-South Africa contests with 19 in 10 matches.
Shakib also has scored the most runs by a Bangladesh batter against the Proteas as he has amassed 492 runs including five fifties, while South Africa opener Quinton de Kock's 428 runs at a strike-rate of 103.63 against the Tigers stands as the highest amongst active players for the Proteas.
*Najmul Hossain Shanto is 18 runs away from reaching 1000 runs in ODIs.
*Mehedi Hasan Miraz is four wickets short of scalping 100 wickets in the format.