Ace Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will put up his “favorite and special” bat that he used during the World Cup last year to raise money for the fight against the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic in the country. The auction will place on Wednesday (April 22) via Facebook.
Shakib, who is currently serving a two-year ban from all forms of cricket -- one of which is suspended -- for not reporting corrupt approaches, becomes the second Bangladeshi cricketer after wicket-keeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim to auction personal sporting merchandise to help the COVID-19 victims.
The 33-year-old all-rounder had a hugely successful World Cup 2019 campaign in England last year, scoring 606 runs in eight matches at an average of 86.57, including two centuries and five fifties as well as 11 wickets, though, the Tigers made an early exit from the tournament.
Shakib said during a Facebook live session, “I had said before that I want to put up a bat for auction. I have decided to auction the bat I used in the 2019 World Cup. It's a favorite bat of mine. This is a very special bat for me, but my people are even more special to me. I had a good World cup with the bat and ball. There were some good performances, especially with the bat. I had used a single bat throughout the World Cup and even used tapes on it to get through games.”
He signed off by saying, “It's not that this bat has only been used at the World Cup. I have scored over 1500 runs with this bat and had used it prior to the tournament and after it as well. Although I like the bat a lot I have decided to put it up for auction with the thought that maybe it can leave some contribution to forming a fund during the ongoing coronavirus crisis.”
Noteworthy, the number of COVID-19 cases has reached over 3300 with 110 death so far in Bangladesh.
(With PTI Inputs)
