Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan. (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)
Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan became the third cricketer to reach the milestone of 7000 runs and 300 wickets in one-day internationals (ODI). Hasan reached the landmark during the first ODI against Ireland at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Bangladesh on Saturday, March 18. He entered the elite list when he reached 24 runs in the 20th over of Bangladesh’s innings.
Apart from Shakib, the first two players who achieved the feat were Sri Lanka great, Sanath Jayasuriya, and former Pakistan skipper, Shahid Afridi. Notably, Shakib is also the second-highest run-scorer in the format for Bangladesh behind ODI skipper, Tamim Iqbal. Iqbal has scored 8146 runs so far in the 50-over format.
Meanwhile, Shakib reached the 300-wicket milestone during Bangladesh’s previous ODI, against England earlier in March. The 35-year-old allrounder, claimed 300 wickets with his four-wicket haul, dismissing Rehan Ahmed in the third and final ODI in Chattogram. He thus became the third left-arm spinner, after Sanath Jayasuriya and Daniel Vettori, to achieve the feat.
The allrounder is also Bangladesh’s highest wicket-taker in Tests and T20Is, having scalped 231 and 128 wickets, respectively. He is the current highest wicket-taker in T20s with 443 wickets. He has also a record of 6000 runs, 400 wickets, and 50 catches in T20s. Former West Indies skipper, Dwayne Bravo is also another player who holds the same record, though not a southpaw.
Shakib-Hridoy’s partnership propelled Bangladesh to their highest-ever ODI total
Talking about the match, Ireland skipper Andrew Balbirnie after having won the toss, invited Bangladesh to bat first. Brilliant knocks from Shakib and Towhid Hridoy guided the hosts to post 338/8 in 50 overs. Shakib and Hridoy has made a century-plus stand (135) to help their side to post a mammoth target. This meant that Bangladesh have now put up their highest-ever ODI total in their cricketing history. It is worth mentioning that earlier back in the ICC ODI World Cup in 2019, they had managed to score 333/8 against Australia.
Shakib smashed 93 off 89 balls while Hridoy scored 92 runs from 85 balls. It was Shakib’s 53rd ODI half-century and 25th at home. For Ireland, Graham Hume claimed a four-wicket haul while Mark Adair, Andy McBrine, and Curtis Campher picked one each.
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