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Former South African cricketer Shaun Pollock, one of the best all-rounders of his time, shared his thoughts on Shakib Al Hasan as arguably one of the greatest all-rounders of this era.

Pollock mentioned that it would have been special to witness Shakib's final Test match from the commentary box had it been held in Mirpur.

Shakib’s absence from the ongoing Test series is a significant blow for Bangladesh, according to Pollock,

"Shakib not playing is a big blow for Bangladesh. He’s a good batsman and his left-arm spin is quite effective. I’m not sure about the reasons behind his absence, and to be honest, I’m not interested in knowing." Pollock told media after the first Test between Bangladesh and South Africa.

As for his thoughts on Shakib, Pollock admitted that he hadn’t watched him as closely as the local fans had but always admired his performances.

"I can't go into detail about his performances because I haven't seen him play as much as you have. But I’ve always been impressed by him. He missed the last South Africa series (referring to Shakib’s absence during Bangladesh's Test series in South Africa in 2022), and I was hoping to see him play here,

"Unfortunately, that didn't happen. He’s led the team multiple times, played in various batting positions, and contributed significantly with both bat and ball. In my eyes, he's exceptional," Pollock concluded.