SHAKIB Al Hasan has been axed as Bangladesh captain following the team’s dismal performance in Zimbabwe.
Shakib, along with his deputy Tamim Iqbal, paid the price for Bangladesh’s 130-run defeat in the solitary Test in Harare and a 3-2 loss in the one-day international series.
At a press conference, Bangladesh Cricket Board media chairman Jalal Younus said: “We thought they could improve their behaviour, but now we didn’t have any choice but (to take) a hard line. After we got our reports from the different people on tour, we got to this decision.”
Shakib initially took on the captaincy during a tour of the West Indies in 2009 when regular skipper Mashrafe Mortaza was injured, and kept it due to Mortaza’s prolonged absence until July 2010 when he stood down to focus on his personal performance.
However, the re-appointed Mortaza broke down again during the first game against New Zealand in October 2010, with Shakib once more taking over.
He held the post through the World Cup – co-hosted by Bangladesh – until yesterday’s announcement.
No immediate replacement was named by the BCB. (PA Sport)