Shakib doubtful for the next ICC World Cup
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||CF Correspondent||
Bangladesh received an unexpected shock ahead of the next ICC Cricket World Cup as participation of their ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan apparently looks to be in doubt.
If that comes true eventually, it will be the biggest blow for the Tigers as failing to take necessary steps after assessing the gravity of the injury looks to have taken its toll on the 31-year-old.
Shakib, who is currently in Australia, indicated that latest updates from doctors suggest he will not be able to undergo the reoperation at least for the next six months.
It is confirmed by the physician in Australia that he won’t be put under the knife until the infection is fully gone and it is found out that there is no traces of it in the bone.
“Since there is no chance of doing surgery till around six months elapse, because of the infection. If that [infection] remains [when the surgery is done] then the hand will be ruined, so no one will take that chance. We have to wait till it's a hundred per cent sure that the infection is gone,” Shakib was quoted as saying in a leading English daily.
“When the medication stops after one-and-a-half to two months we have to wait for one or two more months to see if the infection increases. I will also have to play to see if the infection increases. When all the tests are done and we are sure that there is no chance of the infection coming back or increasing, we can go for surgery. It may take six months or one year. Doctors are thinking six months to a year,” Shakib added.
According to BCB officials, further details of his current state will be known once all the test results arrive in the next few days. Until then, he will have to stay under the supervision of Dr. Gregory Hoy at Epworth Hospital in Melbourne in Australia for at least eight days.
Currently he is under 72-hour observation of the doctors who have started administering antibiotics and injections in order to make an inroads to eradicate the infections.
Shakib sustained the injury during the tri-nation ODI series final against Sri Lanka in January this year and was subsequently sidelined for two Tests and as many T20Is against the Lankans. Although he returned to action in March during the Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka, he was advised to have an operation at a suitable time. Prior to the Asia Cup, Shakib said he was only 20 to 30 per cent fit. But nobody from among the coach, the captain, or the board president entertained the suggestion.
Shakib, in pain, played the Asia Cup and unfortunately was not his usual self either with the ball or the bat. He tried to make up for that physical deficiency with mental toughness. But it was only after he collapsed that everyone took his claim seriously.
Shakib’s two-month medication ends on December this year.
January 2019 – he starts playing to see whether or not infections recurs.
February-March 2019 – tests will be done to see if infection recurred.
April 2019 – Surgery if no infection found. Six to Eight weeks needed to recover
May 2019 – Approximate deadline for submitting World Cup Squad.
June 2 – Bangladesh first match in World Cup.
A timeline on how it has gone so far…
January 27, 2018 (Dhaka): In the tri-series final against Sri Lanka, Shakib's dive to stop a single resulted in him dislocating his left little finger upon a collision with the ground. Immediately attended by the team physio, Shakib was rushed to Apollo Hospitals Dhaka for further treatment and played no further part in the Bangladesh’s 79-run defeat in that match.
“The X-ray did not reveal any fracture. However, there is subluxation or a joint sprain at the base of the little finger on his left hand. He has been assessed by a cosmetic surgeon and necessary repairs have been done. The affected finger will have to be immobilized for at least a week before further assessment is made.” – Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief physician Debashis Chowdhury.
Shakib missed the following Test and T20I series and also the early part of the Nidahas Trophy.
March 15, 2018 (Colombo): “He is on his way here. He will have to be assessed. We will have a look at him to see if he is fit enough to play. And if he is then obviously with someone of his class and caliber would make it into the side.” – Acting Bangladesh coach Courtney Walsh.
Shakib played the last two matches of the Nidahas Trophy, including the final match.
August 9, 2018, (Dhaka): “I feel the sooner the surgery is done, the better. I think it should be done because I don't want to play without being fully fit. So, if I think along those lines then having a surgery before the Asia Cup is normal. Most probably it will take place before the Asia Cup,” -- Shakib upon his arrival to Dhaka after a month-long tour of the West Indies.
“The operation will most probably take place in Australia under Hoy's guidance. As far as I know, Shakib is going to perform Hajj. He can do it before Hajj but once again nothing is confirmed yet.” – Chowdhury.
“Coach Steve Rhodes preferred the surgery before the Asia Cup, but when I met with him today, I said it would be better to do it before the Zimbabwe series. The Asia Cup this time is already tough and it will be a psychological disadvantage if Shakib is not there. I can't imagine playing the Asia Cup without him. We will sit with Shakib and discuss everything soon.” – BCB president Nazmul Hassan.
August 15, 2018 (Dhaka): “Shakib rang me before leaving [for Hajj] and asked me what he should do. I just told him that if you have pain and feel that it will create problems, then you take the decision about the surgery and I also told him that if you feel it will be possible for you to play the Asia Cup then you do it after the tournament. It will be good for the team and it is you who has to take the decision.” – Hassan.
September 28, 2018 (Dhaka): “When I left my team and returned home because of the pain in my hand, I did not understand that I would face such a bad situation. After coming back home, because of intense pain and my hand swelling alarmingly I had to be admitted to hospital and have a surgery. Around 60-70 milligrams of pus was extracted from my finger. Thanks to your prayers, I was saved from a major misfortune. I will have to have another surgery very quickly.
“I request you to keep praying for me. Your prayers and love will help me recover quickly and represent Bangladesh. Thank you.” – Shakib, in a Facebook post.
It was learnt that Shakib's finger was indeed at a critical stage. Doctors have said that if the pus was not removed in time, it would no longer be a question of his career but the continued use of his hand. Even if that is an exaggeration, the bare facts reveal that things had gotten to the stage where an emergency procedure was needed – even though Shakib was desperate to have the surgery abroad as soon as possible, he had to have it in Dhaka.
Now, according to many, although the left-arm spinner is out of danger, the question remains – if the whole episode suggests that it exposed sheer negligence of BCB or not. However, the board has denied to entertain any such claim.
Cricket administrators questioned whether at any point did the physio or the technical support staff of the Tigers warn Shakib that playing with his injured finger could be a career-damaging move. If that was not the case then it was a clear case of negligence, primarily on the part of the physio and the team management in general, they argued.
When Cricfrenzy raised the question to BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury, he apparently defended the stance of the board but indicated that if any negligence is found the person responsible for it, will be taken to task.
“There is no question of negligence. Our effort is to provide the best possible treatment to Shakib,” said Nizamuddin.
“He is our key player and we want him to recover fully and return to national duty soon. Our priority is Shakib's safety.
“We are also working on it to find out if there was anything wrong in the assessment (by the physio),” he added.
