After a brilliant all-round performance in the inaugural Global Super League match, Shakib Al Hasan has struggled with both bat and ball in his last two games.
Trying to slog sweep a full-length delivery from Moeen Ali, Shakib failed to connect. The ball slipped past his bat and disturbed the stumps, ending another quiet day for the experienced all-rounder.
Earlier, Bangladesh’s greatest cricketer also failed to make an impact with the ball. Shakib has been unsuccessful in both batting and bowling in consecutive matches.
In Monday’s match of the Global Super League, played early morning Bangladesh time, Shakib managed only 4 runs with the bat. Against Guyana Amazon Warriors, he bowled economically—4 overs for just 21 runs—but couldn’t claim a wicket.
Despite Shakib’s quiet day, Dubai Capitals couldn’t chase down the target. Guyana crushed Dubai by 57 runs, restricting them to just 81 runs chasing 139.
In contrast, in his opening match against Central Districts, Shakib had played an unbeaten 58 off 37 balls. With the ball, he took 4 wickets for just 13 runs and earned the Player of the Match award.
But just 24 hours later, the former Bangladesh captain faced a reversal of fortune. Against Hobart Hurricanes, he went wicketless, conceding 34 runs and was dismissed for only 7 runs.
On Monday, his struggles continued. In the last 11 matches of 20-over cricket, Shakib has failed to reach double figures in 7 games, including one match where he didn’t bat at all. With the ball, he has taken wickets in only 3 of those 11 matches.
Although Shakib didn’t take any wickets against Guyana, his tight bowling kept the run rate in check. Coming into attack in the 7th over, he bowled a continuous 4-over spell.
He conceded 5 runs in his first over, with Moeen Ali hitting the only six off his bowling. The next two overs went for just 7 runs combined.
For Dubai, Kalim Sana took 4 wickets for 31 runs, limiting Guyana’s total.
Chasing, Dubai lost wickets regularly from the start. Romario Shepherd dismissed Sedequllah Atal and Gulbadin Naib in the 5th over in successive deliveries. Shakib, brought on to stem the flow, kept things tight thereafter.
On the final ball of that over, Shakib grazed the bat to send a boundary past the leg stump. But on his next over, a risky shot off Moeen Ali’s bowling led to his dismissal.
Dubai’s other batsmen also struggled, and their innings ended at 81 runs in 15.4 overs.
Experienced leg-spinner Imran Tahir took 4 wickets for just 12 runs.
With one win in three matches, Dubai sits fourth on the points table. In their final league game on Wednesday night, they will face the reigning champions Rangpur Riders.
