Bangladeshi all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan addressed the criticism he received from former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag, following his match-winning half-century against the Netherlands in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 at Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent on Thursday, June 13.

Sehwag was puzzled with Shakib’s continued selection, citing the all-rounder’s poor form and suggested him to retire. The former India opener lashed out at Shakib for his poor batting form. However, the 37-year-old veteran finally rediscovered his touch, scoring a magnificent unbeaten 64 off 46 balls against the Netherlands after an extended lean spell.

In the post-match press conference, the former Bangladesh captain responded that a player’s role is to assist his team in any form they can rather than respond to questions.

“Players are not obligated to answer questions. Their primary responsibility is to contribute to the team, whether as a batter, bowler, or fielder. A batter must bat effectively, a bowler must bowl well, and a fielder must save runs and take catches. When a player is unable to contribute as expected, discussions about their performance are natural and not necessarily negative. The most important thing is how much a player can contribute to their team’s success,” stated Shakib.

Shakib also revealed that he has never been concerned about his own performance throughout his career, and has always prioritized contributing to the team’s success.

“In my career, I have never worried about my performance. My focus is simply on contributing to the team, and I’ll feel good about that regardless of whether today is ‘my day’ or not. After all, someone else may have their moment to shine in the next match,” he continued.

Prior to reaching his half-century, Shakib had only managed to score 69 runs in 6 T20I innings in 2024, averaging a mere 11.50. His bowling was also underwhelming, taking just 6 wickets in 8 innings at an average of 30.50. Consequently, the all-rounder’s subpar performance was met with intense criticism in the ongoing event.

Shakib’s unbeaten 64 propelled Bangladesh to a solid 159/5 in their 20 overs after being asked to bat first. In response, the Netherlands could only manage 134/8, handing Bangladesh a comfortable 25-run victory. With two wins from their first three matches, Najmul Hossain Shanto’s side is now well-positioned to qualify for the Super 8 stage. A win in their final game against Nepal would further cement their place in the next round.