{ "id": "48329", "author": "1", "cnmid": "0", "title": "Rhodes challenges Shakib to prove he\u2019s still top dog", "lang": "en", "series": "308", "cup_year": "2019", "article_type": "General", "excerpt": "May 27 (CRICKETNMORE) - He may be the world\u2019s top ODI all-rounder, but Shakib Al Hasan still has a point to prove at the ICC Men\u2019s Cricket World Cup according to Bangladesh coach Steve Rhodes.\u00a0 A", "subtype": "", "editor1": "

May 27 (CRICKETNMORE) - He may be the world’s top ODI all-rounder, but Shakib Al Hasan still has a point to prove at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup according to Bangladesh coach Steve Rhodes. <\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n

A prolific influence with bat and ball in the Tigers ascent to the upper echelons of the limited-overs game, the experienced Al Hasan is set to embark upon his fourth World Cup campaign this summer. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

One wicket away from joining an exclusive club of limited-overs to have taken 250 wickets and surpassed 5,000 runs, you’d be forgiven for thinking the 32-year-old’s stock could not be any higher. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Yet his recent absence from the IPL through injury has seen others steal some of the limelight - and with doubts still surrounding his fitness, Rhodes believes his star man needs to remind the rest of the world of his ability. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

“Shakib is fine,” Rhodes said after Bangladesh’s washed out warm-up game against Pakistan in Cardiff.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

“He’s in a great position physically. He had a little problem in Ireland but he’s got over that and is raring to go. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

“He’s looking forward to a wonderful tournament. I think he’s got a bit of a point to prove and he probably thinks that as well.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

“He seems to have been a little bit forgotten but now he’s back as the world’s No.1 all-all-rounder in ODI cricket - and that’s where we think he belongs. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

“But he’s got a point to prove to make sure everybody else believes that.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Winners of the recent Tri-Nation Series against West Indies and Ireland, Bangladesh’s preparations for next week’s curtain-raiser have been almost unblemished.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

One small area of concern, though, has been the injury to another key all-rounder in Mahmudullah Riyad, who is currently nursing a shoulder complaint. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Rhodes said: “Mahmudullah’s shoulder is coming along a little slowly. I don’t think it would have been possible for him to bowl against Pakistan. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

“We’re very optimistic that we can get him up and running for the early stages of the World Cup.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

“It may affect our balance slightly, but the good thing about Mahmudullah is that he doesn’t need a lot of practice to be good at bowling."<\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/span><\/div>\r\n\r\n

Ranked seventh in the world heading into the competition, Bangladesh face an uphill challenge to reach the World Cup semi-finals in some circles. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

But with a delicate blend of experienced heads and talented youngsters at his disposal, Rhodes is confident that his side are able to spring surprises when the action gets underway. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

“People keep telling me that to win a world tournament you need experience,” he added. “I’m glad because we’ve got a wealth of experience there. I listen to them a lot because why wouldn’t you with that vast experience? <\/p>\r\n\r\n

“It will be a good thing when it gets a little tight towards the end of the group.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

“There are 10 teams in this World Cup, but when I looked at the odds, we were ninth favourites and Afghanistan were tenth favourites- but on our day we both could beat the favourites. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

“There’s going to be a lot of winning and losing by all teams”<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\r\n

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