Sunday’s T20 clash between MI Emirates and Desert Vipers at the Dubai International Stadium witnessed Shakib Al Hasan at his brilliant best. The Bangladeshi all-rounder orchestrated a commanding performance, both with the ball and bat, earning his 45th T20 Man of the Match award.
Chasing 125, MI Emirates needed composure in the late overs. Shakib’s 25-ball innings of 17 runs, though seemingly modest, proved crucial in guiding his team to a four-wicket victory. His ability to time the right boundaries while protecting the crease highlighted his maturity and strategic thinking.
Earlier, Shakib’s spin bowling disrupted the Vipers’ innings. Entering the attack in the seventh over, he dismissed Fakhar Zaman with a skidding delivery and followed up by deceiving Sam Curran, who was caught off a return catch. Across four overs, Shakib conceded just 14 runs while claiming two wickets, displaying precision and control that swung momentum decisively in MI Emirates’ favour.
This performance was particularly significant considering Shakib’s absence from four previous matches due to ineffective bowling. Returning to peak form at a pivotal moment demonstrated his ability to influence outcomes single-handedly.
Historically, only a few players surpass Shakib’s T20 Man of the Match record—Chris Gayle (60), Kieron Pollard (48), and Glenn Maxwell (48). However, in series and tournament awards, Shakib leads with eight Player of the Series accolades, ahead of India’s Virat Kohli, who has seven.
Commenting on his approach, Shakib said, “The pitch offered assistance for spin, and batting was far from easy. I focused on my role to anchor the innings, as our team has plenty of big hitters. Ultimately, I’m delighted with the team performance.”
Through calculated batting and disciplined bowling, Shakib once again proved why he is one of modern cricket’s most influential all-rounders, capable of changing the course of a game with both bat and ball.