Shakib is a master tactician: Rhodes
||CF Correspondent||
Bangladesh head coach Steve Rhodes didn’t simply try to reveal his gleeful mood by the arrival of team’s regular skipper Shakib Al Hasan, stating that his experience and captaincy skill gave the side a huge edge, especially after the team’s disappointing result against Zimbabwe in the last Test series.
As Bangladesh prepare for the series against West Indies, Rhodes said they don’t want to replicate the mistakes that they had done against Zimbabwe and Shakib’s presence ensures that they would have the psychological edge too.
“It is great to have him back. Shakib is a master tactician. Riyad did a good job as captain in the Mirpur Test, but somebody of Shakib’s stature, cleverness and tactical awareness is a really important cog to a successful Bangladesh team,” Rhodes said on Sunday after Bangladesh’s practice session at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.
“We welcome him back with open arms. His finger seems fine at the moment. He had a long 45-min bat in the nets today. So things are looking good.”
According to Rhodes, Shakib’s presence is also good for him, considering the ace all-rounder’s huge experience on Bangladeshi wicket, which remains still unknown for the English-born coach. Bangladesh will play their first Test against West Indies in Chittagong, the venue in which Rhodes has come for the first time since taking over as the team’s coach.
“I had a good look with the captain and curator. What we are doing now is gather as much information as possible from the curator. We are lucky that Shakib has played here a lot. He knows the wickets well, more than I do. It is a learning curve for me,” he pointed out.
