Afghanistan’s unbeaten start to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup has seen one of their star performers rise to the top of the ICC Men's T20I All-Rounder Rankings.

Marginal calls, full tosses not being put away or the general inconsistency of Bangladesh top-order were all cause for concern in Bangladesh’s loss to South Africa in New York in a hard-fought contest on Monday. But the situation would not have gotten so desperate had Bangladesh’s key player Shakib Al Hasan left a mark on the game coming in at number four in what was another crucial T20 World Cup game for the Tigers.

“Definitely not,” Tamim told the ESPNCricinfo when asked if Shakib should be dropped from the XI in Bangladesh’s next match

“You are such an experienced player, you have been captain before, but your stats are such. You should feel ashamed of yourself and just declare that you are retiring from the T20 format.”

Shakib Al Hasan is the beneficiary of an unusually disappointing outing for Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga against South Africa on Monday, with the Bangladesh all-rounder leapfrogging Hasaranga into the top spot in the latest ICC all-rounder rankings.

Shakib is likely to remain relevant by the time the next T20 World Cup comes in 2026.

Shakib Al Hasan is one of only two players to have played in every T20 World Cup since the ICC’s global event was introduced in the shortest format in 2007. Shakib and India captain Rohit Sharma have featured in all eight T20 World Cups so far and will be representing their countries in the upcoming edition, which begins in the United States and the West Indies on Sunday.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said the mix of youth and experience was important to the team and, in particular, he hoped Mahmudullah Riyad and Shakib Al Hasan’s experience would guide them during the difficult stages of the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto urged fans and senior players of the team support them during their tough times in the T20 World Cup.

More than a year into his contract, Hathurusingha got to see both sides of the coin. In 2023, Bangladesh whitewashed defending champions England, and Afghanistan won a series against Ireland at home and claimed their maiden T20I win over New Zealand in the BlackCaps’ backyard. But less than a year since enjoying their best ever run in the shortest format, the Tigers spiralled down to their lowest point, displaying a severe lack of continuity.

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan became the first player to take 700 wickets and score 14,000 runs in international cricket in the third and final T20I of the three-match series against the USA at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Houston on Saturday.

Could the Tigers spiral down further? The omens would suggest a very bleak answer for fans of a cricket-crazy nation.

"We have been unable to play good cricket," said Shakib

Rohit Sharma and Shakib Al Hasan were the flag-bearers of the next generation of cricketers when they made their respective debuts in the T20 World Cup in its first iteration in 2007. Both of them had memorable starts in the tournament, giving an early glimpse of their unmistakable talent in South Africa.

Bangladesh ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is going into the upcoming T20 World Cup as Tigers’ key player in what could be his final bow in T20’s showpiece event.

Bangladesh star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan signed for LA Knight Riders for the upcoming season of the Major League Cricket (MLC) in the USA, starting on July 5.

Bangladesh are going into the upcoming T20 World Cup with quite a few young guns in the squad, led by a young skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto. But it is two of their veterans -- Mahmudullah Riyad and Shakib Al Hasan -- who could give the side a lift with their experience in the USA and the West Indies.

“In T20 Cricket, yes, batting order will be changing. That's just normal cricket," said the Bangladesh head coach.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto hoped that the younger players perform well to honour two veterans – Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah Riyad, in the upcoming T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies.

The race to be the No.1 ranked all-rounder at the start of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup has further intensified as two players share top billing following the latest update to the ICC Men's T20 Player Rankings.