In a remarkable turn of events, veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh delivered a stunning performance against the Netherlands in the ongoing T20 World Cup, proving his critics wrong with a crucial win for his team. Shakib's unbeaten 64 off 46 balls, featuring nine boundaries, secured his 13th half-century in T20 internationals and greatly enhanced Bangladesh's chances of advancing to the Super 8s.
This victory comes at a crucial time for Shakib, who had faced intense scrutiny over his form following comments from former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag. Sehwag had openly questioned Shakib's place in the team, criticising his recent performances and suggesting that he should retire from T20 cricket due to what he deemed as 'shameful' statistics.
Responding to Sehwag's remarks after the match, Shakib delivered a succinct retort, quipping, "Who?" about the former opener. His one-word response swiftly went viral on social media, reflecting his determination to let his performance speak for itself.
Reflecting on his innings, Shakib acknowledged the importance of his contribution, especially on a challenging wicket where batting was initially tough. He credited his fellow bowlers, particularly Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam, whose efforts secured Bangladesh's victory.
With this win, Bangladesh now has four points from three matches in the group stage. They will look to seal their spot in the Super 8s with a win over Nepal in their upcoming match on Monday.