Virender Sehwag, the former Indian cricket star, did not hold back in his criticism of Shakib Al Hasan after Bangladesh's narrow defeat to South Africa in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Despite chasing a manageable target of 114 runs, Bangladesh seemed to be in control but stumbled at the end, ultimately losing by just 4 runs under the captaincy of Najmul Hossain Shanto. Shakib, who could only muster 3 runs off 4 balls before being bowled out by Anrich Nortje, faced severe criticism from Sehwag.
Sehwag strongly expressed his opinion that Shakib should have retired from T20 cricket earlier, pointing to what he called 'abysmal' recent performances in the shortest format. In an interview with Cricbuzz, Sehwag said, "I thought during the previous World Cup that he should not have been picked for the T20 squad. The time for retirement should have come a long time ago. As a senior player and former captain, he should be ashamed of his recent form. He should step up, admit it's time to call it quits and retire from T20 cricket."
Additionally, Sehwag criticised Shakib's batting style, advising him to adapt his game to his strengths as a Bangladeshi player rather than attempting shots that aren't his forte. "You're not Adam Gilchrist or Matthew Hayden, relying on the pull shot. If you're selected for the World Cup squad based on experience, prove it. Spend more time at the crease," Sehwag emphasised.
Following the defeat, Bangladesh now holds 2 points from 2 matches in the tournament. Despite the setback, Shanto praised Tanzim Hasan for his character and Rishad for his bowling prowess, expressing optimism about their performance in the upcoming matches.