Sehwag Says Shakib Should Be Ashamed, Advises Retirement

Shakib Al Hasan, not just a top all-rounder for the country but also one of the best in world cricket, has failed to live up to his name with his performance. Against South Africa, he attempted a pull shot off Anrich Nortje and was caught after scoring just 3 runs off 4 balls. He bowled only one over as well. This lackluster performance is not new for Shakib; he has been off form for a considerable time.

Questions are being raised whether Shakib’s poor performance is due to off form or a lack of capability. Some believe it’s time for Shakib to retire from T20 cricket, and there are logical reasons behind this argument.

The country's top all-rounder last scored a fifty in T20 cricket back in 2022. In the 2021 World Cup, he scored 131 runs in 6 matches. In the last T20 World Cup, he scored only 44 runs in 5 innings.

In a Cricbuzz program, former Indian opener Virender Sehwag said Shakib should have retired earlier. Sehwag even believes that Shakib should not play after the World Cup.

He said, “I felt during the last World Cup that he shouldn’t play T20s anymore. It’s been long enough; he should have retired by now. You are such a senior cricketer, a former captain, and given your current statistics, Shakib should be ashamed. He should say himself, ‘I am retiring from this format.’”

While criticizing Shakib, Sehwag gave his own example: “In the second or third World Cup, the one in Sri Lanka, when I couldn’t comfortably handle Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, or a pacer from Afghanistan, I told the selectors not to include me in the T20 squad. I would play ODIs and Tests. Ultimately, I understood my batting wasn’t up to the mark, my bowling wasn’t effective, and I couldn’t contribute to the team. So why keep playing? In my view, Shakib's time to retire has already come.”

Sehwag believes Shakib should not play after the World Cup and that the selectors should give opportunities to young players. He said, “It's time for the selectors to make tough decisions. Young players should be given chances. I believe, if you don’t get results, lose matches by giving opportunities to young players at least. They will gain experience from it and contribute in the future. Experienced players are included to handle situations, maintain team environment, score runs, take wickets, and bowl dot balls with their experience. Shakib is failing to do any of these. I don’t think he should play after this World Cup, or even be made to play.”