Dhaka – All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has become the first Bangladesh bowler to take 200 Test wickets alongside completing the fastest 3000 runs and 200 wickets in 54 matches in Chattogram.Shakib hit the landmark in one match fewer than the previous record-holder Ian Botham. Botham played 55, while Kapil Dev 73, Imran Khan 75 and Richard Hadlee 83 Tests to reach the 3000 runs and 200 wickets in the longer version of the game.
The left-handed spin all-rounder set the record during Bangladesh’s 64-run first Test win against visiting West Indies that ended on day three at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium here on Saturday.
Bangladesh’s Test and T20I side skipper Shakib had come into the match with 196 scalps and removed Kieran Powell in the second innings for his 200th wicket, following his three-wicket haul in the first innings.
Shakib touched the mark making the first breakthrough in the Windies second innings dismissing Kieran Powell on 5/1 in 2.4 overs. Later, he got Shai Hope on 11/2 in 4.5 overs. He finally conceded 30 runs in seven overs in the innings.
Just six years back on the same date – November 24, 2012- and against the same opponent, Shakib picked up his 100th Test wicket to become the second Bangladesh bowler after Mohammad Rafique to reach the milestone. Rafique had done it in March 2008 in his last Test.
Making his Test debut in May 2007, Shakib has 18 five-wicket and two 10-wicket hauls in his career so far, with his best match figures 10/ 124 coming against Zimbabwe in Khulna in 2014 when he also hit 137 in the first innings of that game.
The 31-year talismanic youth from Magura got his second 10-for against Australia last year came in a game in which he had made rapid 84 in the first innings.
Shakib’s best bowling figures in an innings 7/36 came against New Zealand in Chittagong in 2008 to be the bowling leader after Rafique’s retirement.
With the bat, Shakib aggregated 3772 runs from 54 Test at average 39.23 while with ball got 201 wickets conceding average 31.45 runs and 3.10 economy rates till date.UNB
