Internet Desk: Bangladesh cricketer Shakib Al Hasan’s staggering 217 runs at Wellington against New Zealand on the second day of the First Test is the highest by any individual Bangladeshi cricketer but his childhood coach Mohammad Salahuddin is unperturbed. Speaking to xtratime.in from Bangladesh Salahuddin said, “I am not at all thrilled by his feat as I feel with his caliber he should have done this long before, but I am fairly happy that he has done it at last.” He also added, “Recently he was having run drought and in BPL he was batting lower down the order, so he was getting less opportunity to score runs. Here he has got the opportunity and cashed in the situation.”
When asked what is so special about Shakib? Salahuddin feels his tenacity to keep on trying till he achieves his goal is the key. He said, “Shakib is different from others because he is a hard worker and he listens to advice and executes them during the game. He can only help himself which he has done perfectly.”
Although Shakib is always in the vicinity of high profile international coaches, he was seen many a times soughting the advice from Salahuddin whenever he is in any trouble. Salahuddin said, “It is nothing but a mental affair. Shakib was with me since his childhood. He just got mental satisfaction talking with me and of course I understand him better than anyone else as I have been watching him from the very beginning. We are running a relationship of almost fifteen years.”
Reminiscing the memories with Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Salahuddin said, “I saw him first in Magura; heard that a boy had got a six month opportunity to stay in BKSP – I met him after he played his first match there where he scored 70 runs. I thought this boy could play in the premier league. Shakib played in the second and third division in the previous year and I fetched him in the premier division cricket league for Victoria Sporting Club right from there. Shakib scored 46 runs in the first day. I saw a star in him and had a hunch that this boy will shine one day.”
Describing Shakib Al Hasan as a role model for the future generation, Salahuddin said, “I think Shakib is a role model, not only for cricket but also for any sports in Bangladesh because he has shown how to be the number one in the world. Recently I went to a talent hunt program for small kids recently. I was surprised to see innumerable boys came to participate with the name of Shakib Al Hasan. This shows the popularity of Shakib in Bangladesh and I hope he continues to inspire millions.”
In spite of his tremendous achievement today the childhood coach still thinks, “He has a lot of areas for improvement. Shakib has not yet been able to reach in the position of batting which he should have been done after ten years of international career”
Lastly Mr. Salahuddin tried to clear an air of misunderstanding with Shakib. “What everyone thinks about Shakib is not true, he is not arrogant but he talks straightforward. This is good for him because these things have an effect upon his performance. I wish Shakib Al Hasan would never be changed,” signed off Mr Salahuddin.