Shakib still finding it difficult to remember batting coach's name
When Shakib got his chance to bat, he entered the nets and took guard on leg stump. He decided to ask batting coach Jon Lewis if the leg stump guard was okay. But Shakib couldn’t do so as he had forgotten Lewis' name.
Jon Lewis has recently joined Bangladesh national cricket team as batting consultant, succeeding former Protea batsman Neil McKenzie. He has been working with the team since the start of the West Indies series.
But Shakib Al Hasan is still finding it difficult to remember his name, so much so that he had to take his teammates' help to call Lewis at the nets on Sunday.
Ahead of the third ODI of the series, the batsmen were practicing at the nets of the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. Taskin Ahmed, Rubel Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz were bowling to Mushfiqur Rahim and Najmul Hossain Shanto, with Shakib waiting outside for his turn with the bat.
When Shakib got his chance to bat, he entered the nets and took guard on leg stump. He decided to ask batting coach Jon Lewis if the leg stump guard was okay. But Shakib couldn't do so as he had forgotten Lewis' name.
Initially he was beckoning to Lewis. But the coach didn't notice it as he was observing the other players. Then he asked his teammates in Bengali, "What's his (batting coach) name?" Najmul Hossain Shanto, who was batting at the net close by, informed Shakib what his name is.
Then Shakib caught the attention of Lewis, addressing him by name. Lewis assured Shakib that his guard was okay. The all-rounder jokingly said, "I don't trust you, though I don't have many options." Lewis laughingly replied, "Why don't you believe me?"
Then Shakib paid attention to batting. Initially, the southpaw struggled a little bit handle the pace of Hasan and Taskin. But with time, he became more fluent and towards the end he practiced a few shots.
Bangladesh and West Indies will face each other in the third and final ODI in Chattogram on Monday. The hosts have already clinched the series 2-0.