KINGSTOWN, JUNE 14 :  After returning to form with the bat, veteran Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has refused to join issue with former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag, who had earlier lambasted him for non-performance.

Retaining his composure, Shakib said it is not a player’s job to answer critics with words.
Shakib struck an unconquered 46-ball 64 as Bangladesh set a 160-run target before the Netherlands in their T20 World Cup game. Later, the Bangladesh bowlers managed to restrict the Dutch to 134 for eight, giving Bangladesh a 25-run win.

Former India opener Virender Sehwag had told Shakib to “feel ashamed of his performances” and “retire from the format”.

Sehwag’s outburst came after Shakib managed only eight and three runs against Sri Lanka and South Africa in Bangladesh’s first two group games, according to a Star Sports report.

Shakib, responding to a query from a reporter after the Netherlands game, said: “A player never comes [gets onto the field] to answer anyone else”.

“A player’s task is to bat if he is a batter, contribute to the team, bowl well if he is a bowler as getting wickets sometimes also depends on luck, and if he is a fielder then to save runs and take the catches that come his way,” he said.
“There is nothing to answer to anyone. I think when a current player is not being able to contribute to the team as much as is expected of him then it usually invites a lot of questions, and I don’t think it is a very bad thing,” Shakib said.(UNI)