Kanpur game may be Shakib's last Test match

ONE look at his cricketing profile and it can be known clearly how valuable he has been as a cricketer.

- FIROZ MIRZA

Number of prominent teams he has played for, including franchise leagues, goes up to 23. However, his onfield brilliance has often been marred by not-so-sporting off the field behaviour. Be it multiple bans he has served, getting a batter timed-out or clashes with umpires, former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has seen it all in his 17 years of international career.

But as the saying goes, 'every good thing (in this case, the bad ones as well) comes to an end'.

Shakib, who is in the twilight of his career, has on Thursday taken a step towards retirement from the longest format here in Kanpur when he surprised almost everyone with a decision to quit Test cricket.

While it's his wish to bid adieu to the purest form of the game in his country during the South Africa series next month.