DHAKA: The number one all-rounder in all forms of cricket Shakib Al Hasan turned 28 Tuesday and will be celebrating his birthday with his family and friends as Bangladesh team have just returned home after wrapping up their World Cup mission.

Shakib also known as Faisal in his family was born on March 24 in 1987 in Magura district of Bangladesh. He married Umme Ahmed Shishir on 12 December 2012.
A talented left-arm spinner, unarguably the best cricketer that Bangladesh have ever had, Shakib, as a bowler, is accurate, consistent, and canny; and his aggression and a wide range of strokes are the keys to his batting.

Even more importantly, he has self-belief an excellent temperament, unflustered by the big occasion and ready to do battle against the top teams.

The best of his ability and temperament were on display in his first Test as captain, against a weakened West Indies side in Grenada, when Shakib took eight wickets and scored an unbeaten 96 in a tense but successful fourth-innings run-chase of 215, leading Bangladesh to their first overseas series victory.



In only his fourth Test as captain, Shakib scored 87 and 100 - his maiden Test century - in a losing cause against New Zealand in Hamilton, performances that offered further proof of his skill and his ability to handle pressure.

And the same opponents in 2008, Shakib had taken 7 for 36 in Chittagong, only the second instance of a Bangladesh bowler taking seven or more wickets in a Test innings.

In the ODIs, Shakib's contributions been equally vital with both bat and ball, and he became the first from Bangladesh to achieve the double of 2000 runs and 100 wickets. He also became the first batsman from Bangladesh to score five hundreds, despite mostly batting at No.5.



Being clearly the best player of the team, it wasn't surprising when Shakib was handed the captaincy in 2009. His ability to perform consistently with both bat and ball, and his tendency to stay calm under pressure worked well for Bangladesh, as they won 22 out of 47 games under him, and even beat England in the 2011 World Cup.

However, the World Cup campaign was followed by a disappointing tour of Zimbabwe, where Bangladesh lost the one-off Test and the ODI series, which led to Shakib's ouster as captain.



Achievements
In 2009, he was rewarded as Shakib Al Hasan became the number 1 ODI all rounder. In the same year, Shakib was named the Wisden Cricketer of the year. He later became the first ever Bangladeshi to play in the English County Cricket League.

Under his Captaincy, Bangladesh has defeated team like West Indies, whitewashed New Zealand and beaten the powerhouses. In 2012, recently, he also became the number 1 Test all rounder of World Cricket.
Major teams Bangladesh, Adelaide Strikers, Bangladesh A, Bangladesh Cricket Board XI, Barbados Tridents, Dhaka Gladiators, Khulna Division, Kolkata Knight Riders, Worcestershire
Sources, Statistics, Photos: ESPNCricinfo, ICC, Facebook

BDST: 1234 HRS, MAR 24, 2015