Top 5 cricketers of the week – December 21st to December 27th

#5 Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib’s efforts were in vain

Turning up good performances away from home is always a tough job, but Bangladesh’s veteran player and probably their best, Shakib, turned up once again with bat and ball. In the first ODI against New Zealand, he picked up three wickets with the ball, two of which slowed New Zealand in the middle, dragging them from 132 for 2 to 158 for 4 in the 29^th over.

Apart from figures of 3-69, Shakib, who was a tad expensive with the ball, made up for it with a hefty contribution with the bat. His 54-ball 59 and a 63-run partnership with Mushfiqur Rahim kept Bangladesh in the hunt before they lost their way in the last 20 overs.