Lack of fitness will not affect Shakib's performance: Rhodes
|| CF Correspondent ||
Bangladesh head coach Steve Rhodes is confident that Shakib al Hasan will be fit to play before the Asia Cup despite doubts resurfaced about his availability.
Shakib told Daily Star recently that he is 20 to 30 percent fit and still don’t know how he will prepare for the Asia Cup. He could be under the knife anytime soon for his finger injury that is disturbing him since the tri-nation final in Dhaka.
“I don’t believe he is 20-30 per cent fit. I think he is a lot fitter than that. That sort of statement has hit the headline,” Rhodes told the reporters on Thursday.
“I am pretty sure Shakib is a lot fitter than that. He is in no real different state to what he was in West Indies, where he played some fantastic cricket with the bat and ball, and in the field.
“Everybody knows that he does need the operation. He has made that decision after speaking to the president. Asia Cup is very important for Bangladesh.
“He is not fully fit. But if he plays anything like he played in the Caribbean, then that will be a massive asset to Bangladesh cricket.
“This guy is a tremendous cricketer. Even if Shakib is 60-70 per cent fit, you’ll get a lot of cricket out of Shakib Al Hasan,” he said.
Mashrafe echoed the same sentiment as the Englishman and said Shakib’s presence is enough to boost the confidence of the team albeit the decision of playing or not playing entirely depends on the all-rounder himself.
“Overall, the way Shakib batted in the West Indies, was very effective for us to win. I think it is enough for him to maintain at least that level of fitness.
“It is Shakib's decision to make. He has decided to play and when he plays, he'll give his hundred percent,” Mashrafe said regarding his trump card who had taken pain-killer injections during the later part of the Caribbean tour.
