Shakib Al Hasan smiled and so did Rangpur Riders. Shakib’s availability against Fortune Barishal in their opening game of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League today turned out to be a matter of discussion when Rangpur began their preparation ahead of the match at Bashundhara Sports Complex on Friday.

While Rangpur squad members were warming up to have a final net session before their opening game, there was no Shakib in or around the home of Riders.
The all-rounder returned from London on Thursday following an eye check-up after his eye problem recurred in the recent past.

Rangpur got Shakib boost before Barishal clash Shakib arrived in a black microbus half an hour later and the smile he carried while wearing a black T-shirt and trousers before entering the dressing room brought an air of relief to the dressing room.

“I had not bowled for nearly three months,” Shakib was saying to his teammate Mahedi Hasan before taking the ball after having a chat with head coach Sohel Islam.
Mahedi assured that he didn’t need to worry as it came to him automatically and in reality it eventually turned out that way as he needed just five balls to get into his groove by mixing his pace beautifully in the nets that put Shamim Hossain in all sorts of trouble if not anything else.

“I think his memory muscle helps him a lot when it comes to his cricket considering he can execute his skills based on his experience. That is the reason he did not take long to adjust despite coming after a break,” a member of the team management told The Daily Sun on Friday.

Shakib never looked to be troubled when he was batting as well in the nets as he smashed every delivery that he faced.

“I think this hitting will remove all the rustiness as that is not possible by controlled hitting. Furthermore, when you are hitting the ball out of the ground, it will naturally help to increase your confidence,” said the member of the Rangpur franchise.

Shakib was seen batting in the nets wearing power spectacles during his last net session before going to London but that was not the case on Friday as he bowled wearing sports glass while he batted without wearing any power spectacles at the home of Riders.

“It is good news for us that Shakib is back and he is available for tomorrow’s match,” Rangpur’s Executive Director Shanian Taneem told reporters at the Bashundhara Sports Complex.

It was earlier reported that Shakib had an eye problem during the World Cup in India and he was taken to an eye specialist twice during the World Cup in India.

Shakib also met an eye doctor in the USA before he went to London for a second opinion.

Meanwhile, Shakib had a long chat with Afghanistan Mohammad Nabi as the latter arrived straight from the airport at the practice venue and it was not difficult to understand that the two-seasoned T20 campaigners were chalking to begin their BPL campaign on a positive note.