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Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib Al Hasan (4) (cropped)
Shakib Al Hasan (4) (cropped) Image: Wikimedia Commons. Nurunnaby Chowdhury (Hasive) / CC BY-SA 4.0

Overview

Shakib Al Hasan (Bengali: সাকিব আল হাসান; born 24 March 1987) is a Bangladeshi international cricketer who has represented Bangladesh in Test, One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) cricket. A left-handed middle-order batter and slow left-arm orthodox bowler, he is widely regarded as one of the leading all-rounders in the history of international cricket. He has captained the Bangladesh national side across all three formats and also served as a Member of Parliament for the Magura-1 constituency.

Key facts

Full name Shakib Al Hasan
Born 24 March 1987
Nationality Bangladeshi
Batting Left-handed, middle order
Bowling Slow left-arm orthodox
Role All-rounder; former captain
Test debut 2007, against India
Political office Former Member of Parliament, Magura-1
ICC Men's Team of the Year 2009, 2021

Background

Shakib emerged in the late 2000s as a key figure in Bangladesh cricket, combining aggressive lower-middle-order batting with control-oriented spin bowling. He is regarded as one of the most successful sportspersons produced by Bangladesh and is among the country's most followed public figures on social media. In 2019, ESPN ranked him the 90th most famous athlete in the world.

International career

Test cricket

Shakib made his Test debut in 2007 against India. His breakthrough performance came in 2008 against New Zealand in Chittagong, where he took 7 wickets for 36 runs — at the time the best bowling figures by a Bangladeshi bowler in Test cricket. In the format he has scored over 4,000 runs and taken more than 200 wickets. As captain, he led Bangladesh to their first-ever Test win over England in 2016.

One Day Internationals

In ODIs Shakib has scored more than 6,000 runs and claimed over 270 wickets. He became the fastest player in the history of ODI cricket to complete the double of 5,000 runs and 250 wickets.

At the 2012 Asia Cup he scored 237 runs, including three fifties, and took six wickets, helping Bangladesh reach a major tournament final for the first time. Bangladesh lost the final to Pakistan by 2 runs, and Shakib was named Player of the Tournament.

At the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup he scored 606 runs to finish as the third-highest run-scorer of the tournament, in the process surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most runs scored in the group stage of a World Cup.

Twenty20 Internationals

As of 2025, Shakib is the all-time leading wicket-taker at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

Captaincy

Between 2009 and 2022, Shakib captained Bangladesh in 120 matches across the three international formats.

Franchise and domestic T20 career

Shakib has played in T20 leagues around the world for franchises including the Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Jamaica Tallawahs and Dhaka Dominators.

  • Won the Indian Premier League twice with Kolkata Knight Riders, in 2012 and 2014.
  • Won the Bangladesh Premier League title three times — in 2012, 2013 and 2016 — with the Dhaka franchise.
  • Named Player of the Tournament in the BPL a record four times: 2012, 2013, 2018 and 2022.

Awards and recognition

  • Included in the ICC Men's Team of the Year in 2009 and 2021.
  • 41 Man-of-the-Match awards across formats — the most by any Bangladeshi player.
  • 16 Man-of-the-Series awards across formats.
  • Player of the Tournament, 2012 Asia Cup.

Public life and politics

Outside cricket, Shakib served as a Member of Parliament for the Magura-1 constituency. He is one of the most influential and widely followed public figures on social media in Bangladesh. His career has also been accompanied by recurring controversies that have featured prominently in domestic news coverage.

Significance

Shakib's longevity, statistical record across formats and dual contribution with bat and ball have made him a central figure in the development of Bangladesh cricket. He is frequently mentioned in discussions of the greatest all-rounders to have played international cricket, and his record at ICC events has helped raise the global profile of Bangladeshi cricket.

References