The Bangladesh batters had a hard time in the first Test against India. Even Shakib Al Hasan, one of the most experienced players in the squad, struggled a lot against Indian spinners and managed only 57 runs across innings. The veteran all-rounder was seen biting a strap while batting in the series opener in Chennai.
According to Dr. Debashish Chowdhury, chief physician of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), he opted for the unique method to maintain his head position.
Many fans assumed that the black strap might have something to do with Shakib’s diagnosis of an eye condition last year. Dr. Chaudhury has cleared the air during a recent interaction with ESPNCricinfo. As he mentioned, it was entirely Shakib’s idea to use the black strap to improve his batting.
The left-handed batter had used the technique in several practice seasons ahead of the India tour. Shakib feels by biting the strap, he will be able to prevent his head from going down which will help him concentrate more on the ball.
“He has come up with this strap. It is completely his idea. It has not come from us. He is working on a way to hold his head position while batting. He was trying to manage this with a neck brace previously, so this strap thing is also in a trial-and-error phase. He has tried it in the nets. He has done a lot of shadows with it too,” Dr Chowdhury told ESPN Cricinfo, as quoted by Sportskeeda.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh cricket’s mentor, Salahuddin, has given a thumbs-up to Shakib’s bite-strapping idea. Despite being an unconventional method, Salahuddin believes it can help the batter keep his head stable while facing a delivery.
“I think it is good for him. I didn’t tell him to do this. He ties it up around his neck, and biting down on it allows him to keep his neck and head steady. When the head and neck move, the eyes also move, which is not ideal for a batter,” Salahuddin explained, according to Sportskeeda.
He further suggested that Shakib may continue to use the technique if it doesn’t cause a “health hazard.” “It is a personal thing from him. He will understand if it is working for him or not,” Salahuddin added.
With the second Test scheduled to begin on September 27, Shakib Al Hasan’s availability for the match remains in doubt. The left-arm spinner had bowled only eight overs in the previous game. The BCB officials will re-assess Shakib’s fitness before taking the final call about his participation in the Kanpur Test.
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