Shakib in Wisdens IPL All-Time XI

Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan has been included in an all-time IPL XI. The prestigious cricket publication Wisden recently released a best XI featuring Asian players (excluding India), where Shakib is the only Bangladeshi to make the list.

His performance record in the IPL is also quite impressive. From 2011 to 2021, Shakib played 71 matches, scoring 793 runs with an average of 19.82 and a strike rate of 124.48. With the ball, he has been even more effective, taking 63 wickets at an economy rate of 7.43.

Sri Lankan cricketers dominate this XI. The opening pair consists of Sanath Jayasuriya and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. At numbers three and four are Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, while Shakib has been placed at number five in the batting order.

In the all-rounders’ category, Azhar Mahmood and Thisara Perera occupy the sixth and seventh positions. Although Pakistani players have been restricted from participating in the IPL, Azhar Mahmood was able to play using a UK passport. On the other hand, Perera has delivered important performances with the bat while representing multiple teams.

In the bowling department, the spin attack features Muttiah Muralitharan and Rashid Khan. The pace attack includes Sohail Tanvir and Lasith Malinga. Notably, Tanvir gained significant attention in the inaugural IPL in 2008 by taking a tournament-high 22 wickets.

Meanwhile, Shakib has been absent from international cricket for some time. He was last seen in action during a Test match against India in October 2024. However, he remains active in franchise cricket, regularly playing in the CPL, PSL, and county cricket. While there is ongoing discussion about his return to international cricket, no specific timeline has been confirmed yet.