The World Cup fever is in the air, and Bangladesh is gearing up for cricketing action. But amidst the excitement, there’s a setback. Shakib injured his right heel while engaging in a friendly football game during practice.
Bangladesh’s star player and captain, Shakib Al Hasan, is sidelined due to an untimely injury on the eve of the much-anticipated World Cup 2023. He has been ruled out of practice matches and will likely miss the first match against Afghanistan.
This unfortunate incident has kept him away from Bangladesh’s warm-up games and ruled him out of the opening clash against Afghanistan, scheduled for October 7 at Dharamshala.
You might have noticed his absence if you were eagerly awaiting Shakib’s appearance at the toss ceremony. He was nowhere to be found, and word has it that his heel is dealing with “a lot of swelling.” It’s certainly not the sight fans and teammates were hoping for.
Now, here’s the interesting backdrop to all of this. In recent days, Shakib found himself amid controversies, particularly involving his relationship with Tamim Iqbal. This saga resulted in Tamim’s exclusion from the World Cup squad.
🚨 JUST IN: Skipper Shakib Al Hasan suffered a foot injury during practice session last night.
— Saif Ahmed 🇧🇩 (@saifahmed75) September 29, 2023
– He won’t take part in the practice match and also in a bit of risk of missing the first WC game against Afghanistan. [T Sports] #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/ropolzdFM2
Despite these challenges, Bangladesh has assembled a squad that promises a blend of balance and potential. Veterans like Shakib, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Mahmudullah Riyad are expected to be the backbone of the national team. They bring invaluable experience and skill in high-pressure tournaments like the World Cup.
Shakib Al Hasan, often called Bangladesh’s mainstay in batting and bowling, boasts an impressive track record. With 240 ODIs under his belt, he’s amassed 7384 runs and taken over 300 wickets. In the previous edition of the World Cup, he emerged as the third-highest run-scorer, with a substantial 606 runs to his name.
As Bangladesh plays its first warm-up match, all eyes are on how the team copes with Shakib’s absence. Their next challenge will be against the defending champions, England, in Guwahati on October 2. It’s a tough road ahead, but cricket has a way of surprising us when we least expect it.
