Former Indian cricket star Virender Sehwag didn't mince words as he criticised Shakib Al Hasan following Bangladesh's narrow loss to South Africa in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Bangladesh, chasing a modest target of 114 runs, appeared to be in control but faltered, ultimately losing by 4 runs under the leadership of Najmul Hossain Shanto. Shakib, who managed just 3 runs off 4 balls before being dismissed by Anrich Nortje, bore the brunt of Sehwag's scathing assessment.
Sehwag expressed his belief that Shakib should have retired from T20 cricket earlier, citing what he termed 'shameful' recent performances in the shortest format of the game. On Cricbuzz, Sehwag remarked, "During the last World Cup, I felt he shouldn't have been selected for T20s. The time for retirement came long ago. As a senior player and former captain, he should feel ashamed of his recent statistics. He should step forward and declare that enough is enough, and retire from this format."
Additionally, Sehwag criticised Shakib's batting style, advising him to adapt his game to his strengths as a Bangladeshi player rather than attempting shots that aren't his forte. "You're not Adam Gilchrist or Matthew Hayden, relying on the pull shot. If you're selected for the World Cup squad based on experience, prove it. Spend more time at the crease," Sehwag emphasised.
Following the defeat, Bangladesh now holds 2 points from 2 matches in the tournament. Despite the setback, Shanto praised Tanzim Hasan for his character and Rishad for his bowling prowess, expressing optimism about their performance in the upcoming matches.