Listen to this article

Former India opener Virender Sehwag criticized Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan after his poor performance against South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2024 match, suggesting that the all-rounder should feel “ashamed” of his recent T20 stats and consider retiring from the format.

Shakib has had a disappointing T20 World Cup so far. In the first match against Sri Lanka, he conceded 30 runs in three overs and scored just eight runs. His performance worsened against South Africa, where he bowled one over, giving away six runs without taking a wicket, and was dismissed for three after top-edging a pull shot off Anrich Nortje.

Virender Sehwag Criticizes Shakib Al Hasan

After Bangladesh’s four-run defeat to , Sehwag harshly criticized Shakib for attempting an extravagant shot when his team needed him to stay at the crease. Sehwag argued that Shakib should have been dropped from the T20 team long ago.

“I felt in the last World Cup that he should no longer be picked in T20s,” Sehwag said on a Cricbuzz show. “According to me, he is past his time. Maybe he was brought in because of his experience, but he didn’t show his experience. He should have stuck around, spent some time on that wicket.”

Sehwag further criticized Shakib’s shot selection, saying, “You are not Matthew Hayden or Gilchrist who can just swing for it against short balls, you are a Bangladeshi player. Play according to your ability. Hooks and pulls are not your shots, play your shots and at least stay at the wicket.”

Shakib’s batting stats in the previous T20 World Cup in 2022 were also poor, with only 44 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 95.65. Sehwag believes Shakib should recognize that his time in T20Is is over and retire from the format.

“You are such an experienced player, you have been captain before, but your stats are such. You should feel ashamed of yourself and just declare that you are retiring from the T20 format,” Sehwag concluded.

Share this post!