'Shakib's comeback won't be easy,' says Bangladesh selector Bashar

Former Banglesh captain and national selector Habibul Bashar is shocked that a "mature" man like Shakib Al Hasan didn't report corrupt approaches to ICC and believes it would be tough, if t impossible, for banned all-rounder to regain his peak position.  world's .1 ODI all-rounder was on Tuesday banned by ICC for two years, one year being a suspended sentence, for failing to report corrupt approaches from an alleged bookie Deepak Aggarwal on three occasions, including one during 2018 Indian Premier League.

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'Comeback won't be easy': Bashar

While Bashar expects 32-year-old, who has over 11,000 runs and more than 500 wickets across three formats, to be back after ban, he also mitted that it will be easier said than done.

"It is a tough ask. Shakib will be out of cricket for a year, which will be mentally tough for him...After one year, to first make a comeback and n strive to reach where you were before ban is a tall order but t impossible," Bashar told PTI in an interview. 

"Because name of player is Shakib, I have faith in his ability and talent. re have been spells of injuries, where has been out for three to six months."I have seen him make comebacks from rehabilitation and n very quickly get back into groove...He is a seasoned player and re's reason that he can't do it again," he ded. For w, Bashar is yet to get over shock of Shakib t reporting corrupt approaches to ICC's anti-corruption unit. "It is shocking to me. But I will take solace from fact that having kwn Shakib for long, I knew he would never indulge in any corrupt practice. That he has t been indicted by ICC on corruption charges is a big relief as far as I am concerned," said Bashar, one of Shakib's earliest captains. "But yeah, I am also surprised like anyone as to why a mature boy like Shakib didn't report matter to ICC's anti-corruption unit," Bashar, who played 50 Tests and 111 ODIs, for his country said. Bashar mitted that it's a "huge blow" to Banglesh cricket but at same time country has option but to move on.

"It is undoubtedly a big blow for Banglesh cricket. A player of Shakib's caliber won't be available for a year. It's a huge setback but we need to move on from this and emerge stronger as a team," 47-year-old said. Bashar said focus should w be on India series, which begins vember 3, and country's cricket fraternity should t fret too much over Shakib suspension. "It's t that we have t played without Shakib in past. We have played and also won matches in his absence. Obviously, we will miss him but we have got to do with resources that we have," Bashar said.

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'Current players must take extra responsibility'

"Those who would be playing need to put ir hands up and take extra responsibility. "Our focus shouldn't waiver as everything from w, planning, strategy, execution should only be around this series," said man, who led Banglesh to a famous World Cup victory over India at Port of Spain during 2007 edition. BCB has preferred 28-year-old Mominul Haque for Test captaincy and Bashar feels it is right move as he was being groomed for top job for past two years."re has been a lot of thought that h gone into making Mominul captain. He was being groomed by BCB to take over Test captaincy in near future. Players like Shakib, (Mahmudullah) Riy will be playing for a few more years but as far as captaincy is concerned, we need to look at future options."Mominul has been Banglesh A team captain for last two years and he is someone we have all seen, can keep his calm under pressure. He can handle pressure. So he is best bet as far as Banglesh is concerned," he concluded.

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