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DHAKA, Aug 26, 2024 (BSS)-Shakib Al Hasan's childhood mentor and current Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director Nazmul Abedeen Fahim was not surprised to see the ace allrounder performing with immense acumen in the first Test against Pakistan as he knows that he is extremely capable of keeping the outside noise away when he is on the field.

His comment came a day after Shakib played a key role in Bangladesh's historic Test victory against Pakistan despite being charged with an alleged murder case for which a legal notice was sent to BCB for his elimination from the national team.

When everyone was stunned to see Shakib performing up to the mark on Day 5 to bring three crucial breakthroughs for the team, which paved the way for the Tigers' historical victory, Fahim said he expected Shakib to come with vigorously.

"I will not call (Shakib) mentally strong. But he is a top athlete, and top athletes, from any sport or any country are able to keep negative thoughts out of the field when they are on the field. They only think about the game. That's how they prepare themselves as if no other thought could come at all. The same is true for Shakib," Fahim said here today.

"When he is given the ball, he has no other thoughts. He only cares about the batters. He can be disturbed inside but when the ball is in hand, nothing else works in the head. This is what sets him apart from others. Many of our players have seen various incidents of criticism which doesn't allow them to play their natural game. But that is not right in the case of Shakib."

As a legal notice was served to remove him from the national team because of being charged with murder case, the BCB president Faruque Ahmed earlier said, a decision would be made regarding Shakib after the first Test.

Fahim said he talked with Shakib during the first Test but not as a director. He said the discussion revolved around with proper cricketing talks.

"I have two roles with him. I didn't say anything as a BCB director. I spoke to him as his mentor and coach. I talked about his performance and his batting. It has nothing to do with the board. I played the role of how he would do well."

After seeing Shakib's performance in the first Test which Bangladesh won by 10 wickets to take 1-0 lead in the two-match series, Fahim feels that Shakib has not only shined in with his own bowling but also inspired others.

"He bowled the way a proper Test bowler does. He bowled with the confidence he has in himself. He had plan for both right-hand and left-hand batters. And he seemed to be bowling to take wickets whenever he was given the ball. He was talking to other bowlers and giving directions to other bowlers, specially Mehidy Hasan Miraz. He was totally involved with the game. He also enjoyed bowling," Fahim said.

"He had some discontent with his bowling in the past and I am sure he had more. I think he is satisfied now. If he gets an opportunity in the future, it will come in handy."

BCB has been served a legal notice to eliminate Shakib from the national team and send him back home. Before the second Test which starts on August 30, a decision will be made regarding Shakib. But it seems the board is on his side.