Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is looking forward to touching a milestone in Tigers’ first ODI match of this World Cup, reports UNB.
He has already scored 5,000 runs in ODI but needs one more wicket to complete 250 scalps and join an elite club of all-rounders.
There are a few cricketers who have achieved the double of 5,000 runs and 250 wickets in ODIs — Sanath Jayasuriya (13,430 runs and 323 wickets), Shahid Afridi (8,046 runs and 395 wickets), Jacques Kallis (11,579 runs and 273 wickets) and Abdul Razzaq (5,080 runs and 269 wickets).
If Shakib can achieve the feat in the next match, he will be the faster cricketer to do so. While Sanath Jayasuriya took 304 matches to complete the double of 5,000 runs and 250 or more wickets, Kallis, Afridi and Razzaq took 296, 273 and 234 matches respectively. Shakib, on the other hand, played 198 matches till the date.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said while talking to the ICC. “But I’m still one wicket away and hopefully, I can get that in the first match.”
“When your name is mentioned alongside some of the greats, obviously you feel proud. It’ll motivate me more,” Shakib said.
Before heading to the World Cup, the star all-rounder grabbed the top place of the ODI all-rounder, which will surely boost his confidence in doing great in the mega event of cricket.
The Test and T20 captain of Bangladesh believes the blend of experience and young guys in the team will help Bangladesh do their best in the World cup.
“We’ve got a very good blend of youth and experience. There are five of us who have played almost 200 ODIs. That’s a huge experience under our belt and then there are guys who are young but have played 60 or 70 ODIs,” Shakib said.
“That’ll help us in a tournament like this where there’s a lot of pressure. You need that experience to handle it. So I think we have what we need to get results. I’ve got an important role to play, not only batting and bowling but also with leadership. I’ll do everything I can to help the team,” he added.