After a quiet start to his debut International League T20 (ILT20) campaign, Bangladesh icon Shakib Al Hasan silenced critics with a masterful bowling display for MI Emirates against the Desert Vipers today at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

​The veteran left-arm spinner, who struggled in his first two outings giving away 47 runs in just four overs, returned to his trademark economical ways, finishing with clinical figures of 2 for 14 in 4 overs.

​A Masterclass in Control

​Shakib’s performance was defined by relentless accuracy and pressure. Across his 24 deliveries, he did not concede a single boundary (neither a four nor a six) and recorded an impressive 12 dot balls.

​How the Wickets Fell:

​7th Over: Introduced into the attack, Shakib struck with his very last ball, dismissing Pakistani star Fakhar Zaman, who was stumped by Nicholas Pooran. ​9th Over: He doubled his tally by showing great athleticism, diving forward to complete a sharp return catch to dismiss English all-rounder Sam Curran.

​Following his two-wicket burst, Shakib remained incredibly miserly, conceding just three runs in each of his final two overs (the 11th and 15th) to choke the Vipers’ middle order.

​Match Situation

​Due to Shakib’s disciplined spell, the Desert Vipers were restricted to a modest 124 for 7 in their 20 overs. 

Bowler – Shakib Al Hasan

Overs – 4.0

Runs – 14

Wickets – 2

Economy – 3.50

In response, MI Emirates faced an early stumble, reaching 54 for 4 in 8 overs during the chase. Shakib, looking to prove his worth with the bat as well, is currently unbeaten at the crease as he attempts to steer his side to victory alongside Sanjay Krishnamurthi.

​Redemption for the Veteran

​Before today’s breakthrough, Shakib’s ILT20 journey had been underwhelming. He had scored only 16 runs in one innings and had been expensive with the ball in his first two matches. This performance marks a significant turnaround for the 38-year-old, reaffirming his status as one of the premier T20 all-rounders in the world.