Shakib Al Hasan: 'We have to bring our A game against Australia'

Bangladesh vice-captain Shakib Al Hasan, who toppled records in the World Cup match against West Indies in Taunton, feels he can do better.

Shakib Al Hasan (right) and Liton Das celebrate the victory against West Indies at the Taunton County Ground on Monday.

 

On Monday, Bangladesh vice-captain Shakib Al Hasan joined an elite list of cricketers who have scored 6,000-plus ODI runs and taken 250 wickets. The left-handed batsman remained unbeaten on 124 off 99 balls to guide Bangladesh to a seven-wicket victory against West Indies in Taunton.

Earlier in the day, Shakib picked up two wickets for 54 runs.

“It feels great. To stay at the wicket till the end was the most satisfying thing. I have been working on batting for the last one and a half months, and it has paid off,” Shakib revealed the secret to his consistency at the post match presentation ceremony.

READ| Shakib, Liton shine as Bangladesh beats West Indies by seven wickets

“At the end of the first innings, we believed that if we bat well we can win. It was a reasonable total [321 for the loss of eight wickets] posted by West Indies. Not sure why I backed myself for the No. 3 spot, but I thought if I batted at 3 I will get more opportunities and more time in the middle. If I bat at 5, I will get in at the 30th over or something, and that's not ideal for me honestly,” he explained the reason behind the batting order promotion.

A victory against Australia can take Bangladesh to the knockouts. Shakib, however, is not complacent. “Mehidy [Hasan] contributed with the ball. I have contributed with the ball too, but I think I can get better than this. We have to bring our A game against Australia. I hope the fans will keep supporting us, and they have been magnificent throughout the World Cup.”