Even a single win will be an achievement

Leading all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was finally on his way to join his teammates in South Africa as Bangladesh are set to play a three-match ODI series and a two-match Test series in challenging conditions starting from March 18.

"Expectation will be to win. It would be great to win the series," Shakib told the media at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday. Bangladesh however, currently on top of ICC ODI Super League, have played six Tests, nine ODIs and four T20Is so far in South Africa and lost all games. Shakib considers breaking the deadlock against the Proteas in South Africa would be huge. "But even winning a single match would be a great achievement, in my opinion. I think the whole team have similar target," Shakib added. The last time Shakib travelled away from Bangladesh was under different circumstances. On March 06, before leaving for Dubai to fulfill commercial commitments, Shakib had revealed his unwillingness to play in South Africa to the media, citing his state of mental health. Asked if he was leaving with a positive mindset this time, Shakib informed, "Much relieved [this time]. After all, to be with the team is always a matter of enjoyment."

Does Shakib have a problem with authority? Or does the BCB have an issue with him?

How long do you have? But, seriously, it can't be denied that Shakib has had run-ins with the BCB for a long time. Let me go back… In 2009, he challenged the then board president AHM Mustafa Kamal for criticising the Bangladesh team in a public function. He's been banned twice on disciplinary grounds. And remember how he kicked the stumps during a domestic T20 game last year? I might be missing a couple of instances, but you get the picture. The BCB has actually handled Shakib poorly in the last 12 years. See, he is Bangladesh's greatest cricketer ever, there's no contest there. So the BCB avoids punishing him too harshly, as was in 2010 when he abused someone in the crowd for not moving away from the sightscreen, or when he flipped a fan during the 2011 World Cup. They reduced his ban when he threatened to quit the Bangladesh team as he wasn't allowed to play in the CPL. 

When the ICC banned him in 2019, the board didn't even announce an internal investigation. If he can change his mind about touring South Africa twice, you think anyone can stop Shakib from picking and choosing the games he plays? He generally gets along with his team-mates, but he will face a confused team management that had probably activated Plan B when they heard he was on leave. But Shakib still needs Bangladesh, especially now when it looks like the IPL is unlikely to feature in his schedule at all. Given his age, he has a few good years left in him, but he would want to go out on a high. And, for that, he will need to perform for Bangladesh.