Former cricketer Murali Kartik has revealed that Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is playing the ongoing Chennai Test against India with multiple injuries.
Shakib bowled seven overs on Day 3 after skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto introduced him into the attack, but was hit by Rishabh Pant for six boundaries and two sixes in a poor spell.
Shakib has failed to live up his high standards in 2024 so far, having scored just 295 runs in 18 innings across formats at an average of 19.66 with one fifty. With the ball, he has taken just 18 wickets at an average of 39.88.
"Having seen him and known him for such a long period of time, I did go up to him and ask the reason why he has not bowled enough. And the thing which he said to me is something I completely resonate with. He has had a finger surgery on his bowling finger, which is the point of his finger of his left hand. It is swollen, it is rigid, there is no movement, no suppleness to it. So he feels he is not getting any feeling out of it. As a spinner you need the feeling. Also he is having issues with his shoulder so it is a combination of both and it's tough to bowl in Test cricket where you need that feel as a spinner," Kartik was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
Shakib suffered a left index finger injury during the World Cup 2023 match against Sri Lanka, which kept him out of action for a few months.
Former Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal said that if Bangladesh selected Shakib despite his injuries, they are playing a bowler short.
"Murali Kartik said that Shakib is having trouble gripping the ball due to this finger injury. If that is the case, Bangladesh are playing with four frontline bowlers. The team management should inform whether they knew about this injury or not," Tamim said.
However, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief physician Dr Debashish said that they are not aware of any discomfort to Shakib due to an injury.
"Shakib had a fracture in his finger from the World Cup in India. Before that, he had an infection from another finger injury a few years ago. Shakib, though has not recently complained about a finger or shoulder injury. A broken finger however can cause discomfort," he stated.
(With ANI Inputs)
