Not playing World Cup in India was a big mistake: Shakib Al Hasan

Staff Reporter: PNN

Former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has described Bangladesh’s decision not to participate in the T20 World Cup held in India as a “big mistake”. He believes the decision caused significant harm to Bangladesh cricket.

Shakib, currently in the United Arab Emirates to play a T20 league, made the remarks during a press conference there. He said Bangladesh missing such a major tournament is a huge setback.

He added that participating in international events is a matter of pride for any country, and missing a stage like the World Cup negatively affects the growth of cricket.

Shakib also spoke about the current situation of the Bangladesh Cricket Board. He expressed hope that the administration led by Tamim Iqbal will help take Bangladesh cricket in the right direction. According to him, long-term planning can make Bangladesh cricket stronger.

Regarding recent performance, Shakib said the Bangladesh team is now playing more as a unit compared to the past, when individual performance dominated. He said better coordination is now visible.

He also expressed optimism about young cricketers, saying many of them are promising and can perform well with the support of experienced players.

On the IPL, Shakib said he no longer plays in the tournament but has no regrets, and he enjoys watching the performances of younger players.

Overall, he expressed a positive outlook on the current state and future of Bangladesh cricket.