Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan‘s limited bowling in the recently concluded T20I series against New Zealand has raised eyebrows, with former captain and cricketing great Donald not shy in questioning the management’s decision.

Shakib, who is widely regarded as one of the best all-rounders in modern cricket, bowled just three overs across three games in the series, conceding 23 runs without taking a wicket. This was despite the fact that Shakib has been a regular bowler for Bangladesh in all formats of the game, and is known for his ability to pick up crucial wickets.

Speaking to reporters after the series, Donald expressed his surprise at the limited role given to Shakib Al Hasan in the bowling department

 “I have no idea why Shakib didn’t bowl enough in the series. He is one of the best all-rounders in the world, and he has a great track record with the ball. I think Bangladesh missed a trick by not using him more.”

he said. 

South African cricketer and coach Allan Donald‘s comments have been echoed by several other cricketing experts, who have questioned the logic behind Bangladesh’s decision to limit Shakib’s bowling in the series. Some have suggested that the management may have been trying to manage Shakib’s workload, given his recent return to the national team after a ban for breaching the ICC’s anti-corruption code. Others have speculated that the team may have been experimenting with new combinations ahead of the T20 World Cup later this year.

Whatever the reason, there is no doubt that Shakib’s limited bowling in the series was a missed opportunity for Bangladesh. With his ability to swing the ball both ways and his experience in both the powerplay and death overs, Shakib could have been a valuable asset for the team in their bid to win their first-ever T20I series against New Zealand.

As Bangladesh prepares for a busy schedule of international cricket in the coming months, including a series against Sri Lanka and the T20 World Cup, the management will need to make some tough decisions about how best to use their star all-rounder. If they can find the right balance between managing Shakib’s workload and utilizing his skills to the fullest, Bangladesh could be a force to be reckoned with on the world stage.