It Takes A Big Heart To Endure What Shakib Al Hasan Is Going Through - Tamim Iqbal

Bangladesh ODI captain Tamim Iqbal has praised Shakib Al Hasan for showing “big heart” by staying back in South Africa and playing the third ODI despite several members of his family back home being in hospital.

Bangladesh created history by defeating South Africa in a bilateral series for the first time in their own backyard, as they won the third and final ODI in Centurion by 9 wickets thanks to Taskin Ahmed’s five-wicket haul and captain Tamim Iqbal’s 87*. Shakib took two wickets and later hit the winning runs as Bangladesh won with 141 balls to spare.

Meanwhile, Shakib Al Hasan, who had previously opted to tour South Africa despite being given a break by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). However, there were reports that the all-rounder might fly back home giving the third and final ODI a miss after receiving news of several of his family members being admitted into a hospital with a severe illness.

The Dedication That He Showed, It Was The Most Important Thing: Tamim Iqbal On Shakib Al Hasan

Meanwhile, Shakib took a flight back home in the evening from Johannesburg on Wednesday. He is scheduled to land in Dhaka on Thursday. Four members of his family including his two children, his mother, and his mother-in-law are all in hospital with different ailments.

Tamim Iqbal said that Shakib’s performance wasn’t of importance to him, but the fact that he stayed back and dedicated his time to the team impressed him the most.

“It takes a very big heart to endure what Shakib is going through. Not many people could have done it. There would be nothing wrong to want to be with one’s family in such a situation. For me his performance wasn’t important. But the dedication that he showed, it was the most important thing. I am telling you. Four or five members of his family are in the hospital. He is still playing and smiling with the team. It takes a big heart,” Tamim was quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

Now the two teams will clash in a two-match Test series and Shakib is in talks with the Bangladesh authorities about returning in time for the red-ball matches. The first Test of the two-match series is scheduled to run from March 31 to April 4 in Durban, and the second from April 7 to 11 in Port Elizabeth.

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