Shakib hopes to be back for Zim tour

Shakib Al Hasan, who turned 26 Sunday, talks to the reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. Photo: Star
Shakib Al Hasan, who turned 26 Sunday, talks to the reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. Photo: Star

Ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan spent the morning of his 26th birthday yesterday in the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s National Cricket Academy strictly adhering to his rehabilitation process.
After an hour-long gym session, the left-hander spoke to the media for the first time since last month’s operation in Sydney.
“I am working hard under the academy trainer (Stuart Karppinen). I hope to be fit before the series against Zimbabwe in April,” said Shakib. “As per the guidelines of the trainer, I began running yesterday and did not face any trouble. I still have not started bowling or batting, I hope to do that from next week onwards,” he added.
Despite having missed out on the tour to Sri Lanka, the all-rounder kept a close eye on all the matches so far. “I think the wicket for the first ODI (Hambantota) was a batting track. We needed an early breakthrough. That perhaps could have made a difference,” said Shakib.
He also spared a moment for his colleague Tamim Iqbal, who was injured in the match. “If you look at the calendar, you’ll notice that we have been playing a lot of cricket lately, both domestic and international. So these kinds of injuries can happen on a regular basis. But at the same time this helps newer players to get opportunities,” he said.
Earlier, the player had undergone surgery in Sydney on February 26 to correct his exertional compartment syndrome, one of three problems he was diagnosed with by the board’s physicians last month.

Source: The Daily Star