Shakib Al Hasan explains why Soumya Sarkar was handed the final over

Shakib Al Hasan and his Bangladesh team came agonizingly close to winning the Nidahas Trophy, only denied by Dinesh Karthik‘s heroics. They seemed to be well in control of the game with 34 runs needed in the last two overs, but Karthik came out and played an absolute blinder to help his side register a win off the final ball of the innings.

Talking about the entire thought process in the final few overs, Shakib said that Rubel was their best bowler and he wanted to give some cushion for Soumya Sarkar. With 34 runs needed off the final two overs, it was probably the best call Shakib could’ve taken. But Karthik’s innings came completely out of the blue and helped them register a famous win.

“When Mustafizur bowled that brilliant over, India needed 34 off the last two overs. Rubel was our best bowler today after the way he bowled the first three overs. I believed in him. I thought even if he bowled badly, he would go for 15 runs. I would have 20 runs to play with in the last over, which would have given Soumya some cushion. It was the plan behind bringing Rubel in the 19th over,” Shakib said to bd crictime.

Will keep backing Rubel in pressure situations

The final had a psychological impact on the likes of Soumya Sarkar and Rubel Hossain, but Shakib said he will keep backing his best bowlers. He also added that Dinesh Karthik’s innings was absolutely terrestrial and he can’t remember cricketers who can strike the ball like that right from the outset.

“He (Rubel) didn’t miss by much. I don’t know many batsmen who can hit a six off the first ball, and then keep hitting the boundaries. There are very few instances in history. There was something otherworldly about it. He got nervous after going for 10 runs off the first two balls. I still feel that I will back him the next time such a situation comes,” the Bangla captain said.

Shakib also said that he didn’t say much to Soumya whilst he bowled the final over. He apparently asked him to take his own time and do not rush into any delivery. Soumya Sarkar did very well to give just 7 runs in the first five balls, but that six over covers from Karthik shattered him and he was unconsolable.

“I didn’t tell [Soumya] anything in particular. It is better not to tell a bowler [too much]. I just told him to take his time. Sometimes you can rush into a delivery and then miss your length. I think he bowled very well for three overs and in fact, I can’t really blame anyone; we just had two bad overs. I am not blaming anyone. I am really proud of the team’s bowling and fielding effort,” Shakib concluded.

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