DHAKA: The Guardian terms all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan as an ‘unsung hero’.

According to its recent report, “There’s no greater signifier of cricket’s haves and have-nots than Shakib Al Hasan’s now annual appearance in the Big Bash League T20 competition.

‘Who the hell is this guy?’ ask incredulous local commentators (answer: statistically the third best all-rounder in ODI cricket). A Bangladeshi? Really? Perhaps it’s the same lack of research and respect from opposition players that has seen the spinning all-rounder gather over 4,000 runs (six centuries, 27 fifties) and 184 wickets across 142 ODIs, many of them unseen by western eyes, but not shrewd T20 list managers.

In the context of Bangladesh’s chances in any given match, Shakib’s influence is always central and he delivers more often than not.

The national captaincy was thrust upon him at the age of 21 and he was at the helm during their breakthrough Test win against West Indies, but freed from that extra burden now he offers composure and class with both bat and ball.

Crucially, those Big Bash appearances have also given him a familiarity with the conditions he is facing during this World Cup.

However, according to the report the other unsung heroes are Ahmed Shehzad (Pakistan), JP Duminy (South Africa), Mitchell McClenaghan (New Zealand) and Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan).

BDST: 2136 HRS, FEB 18, 2015