Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib Al Hasan, born 24 March 1987, is a Bangladeshi international cricketer who has represented his country in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, and also captained the side. He previously served as a member of Parliament for the Magura-1 constituency. A left-handed batter known for his aggressive middle-order play and a left-arm orthodox bowler who relies on control, Shakib is often called one of the finest all-rounders in cricket history and is widely seen as Bangladesh’s most accomplished sportsman. By 2025, he held the record for the most wickets in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup history.

Shakib’s Test career began in 2007 against India. His big moment came the following year in Chittagong against New Zealand, where he took 7 for 36—then the best bowling figures by a Bangladeshi in Tests. He soon became a key player, amassing over 4,000 runs and more than 200 wickets in the format. He also captained Bangladesh to their first Test win over England in 2016. In ODIs, he has been even more prolific, with over 6,000 runs and more than 270 wickets. He was the fastest to reach the double of 5,000 runs and 250 wickets in ODIs. During the 2012 Asia Cup, he scored 237 runs with three half-centuries and took six wickets, helping Bangladesh reach the final for the first time—they lost to Pakistan by two runs—and he was named Player of the Tournament. At the 2019 World Cup, he broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most runs in the group stage, finishing third overall with 606 runs.

In T20 franchise cricket, Shakib has played for teams including Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Jamaica Tallawahs, and Dhaka Dominators. He won the Indian Premier League twice with Kolkata Knight Riders (2012 and 2014) and the Bangladesh Premier League three times with Dhaka Dominators (2012, 2013, and 2016). He was named BPL Player of the Tournament a record four times (2012, 2013, 2018, and 2022). Across all formats, he has collected 41 man-of-the-match awards—the most by any Bangladeshi—and 16 man-of-the-series awards. Between 2009 and 2022, he captained Bangladesh in 120 matches across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.

Shakib has been a steady performer for Bangladesh over many years, but his career has also been marked by controversies that frequently make domestic headlines. He is one of the most influential and followed people on social media in Bangladesh. In 2019, ESPN ranked him the 90th most famous athlete globally. He was named to the ICC Men’s Team of the Year twice, in 2009 and 2021.

Shakib was born in the Magura District of Khulna Division and started playing cricket early. According to Prothom Alo sports editor Utpal Shuvro, Shakib was skilled enough that villages and teams often hired him to play. In one such match, he batted aggressively and bowled fast as usual, but also tried spin bowling without much success. Later, playing for Islampur, he took a wicket with his first delivery using a proper cricket ball—he had previously only played with a taped tennis ball. He trained for six months at Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan, a government sports institute.

Shakib made his Under-17 debut in 2003 against UAE in the ACC Under-17 Cup, taking 3 for 18 in eight overs, including two maidens. In May 2004, at age 17, he debuted in first-class cricket for Khulna, recording figures of 0 for 116 in 30 overs in the first innings and 3 for 92 in 28 overs in the second. He scored 13 off 11 in the first innings and 16 off 43 in the second; his first first-class wicket was Rakibul Hasan.

He first played for Bangladesh at Under-19 level in November 2005 during the Afro-Asia Under-19 Cup against India Under-19. In that match, he scored 24 off 23 balls with four fours and took 2 for 26 in ten overs, including two maidens, with his first wicket being Tanmay Srivastava. Over five matches in the tournament, he scored 138 runs at an average of 38.50 and took five wickets at 25.20. On 30 November 2005, the 18-year-old guided Bangladesh to a four-wicket win over England in the opening match of a tri-nation Under-19 tournament (also involving Sri Lanka), scoring 82 off 62. In the final of that tri-nation event, he scored a century off 86 balls and took three wickets to lead his team to victory. Across 18 youth ODIs, he scored 563 runs at an average of 35.18, with three fifties and one hundred (highest score 100), and took 22 wickets at an average of 20.18, an economy of 3.68, and best figures of 4 for 34.

On 1 January 2005, Shakib played a first-class match for Bangladesh Cricket Board President’s XI against Zimbabweans, scoring 14 off 14 in the first innings and 15 off 66 in the second, with bowling figures of 0 for 133 in 32 overs. In February 2005, he took his first first-class international wicket, dismissing Vusimuzi Sibanda, and also claimed a five-wicket haul against Zimbabwe A.

In domestic cricket, Shakib has played for Khulna in the National Cricket League since 2004. In the 2004–05 season, after his debut in May 2004 at age 17, he played only three matches, scoring 129 runs at an average of 25.80 with a high score of 54.