Shakib Al Hasan's genius of compartmentalising his life on and off the field
![Shakib Al Hasan's genius of compartmentalising his life on and off the field](/img/li/shakib-al-hasans-genius-of-compartmentalising-his-life-on-and-off-the-field-1.jpg)
"He stays in his bubble [on the field]. He has a generally very positive mentality. He doesn't look back. It is purely a mental skill. It cannot be taught or coached."Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, Shakib's coach since his school daysThere are more instances of Shakib smoothly bouncing between great performances, giant controversies and scandals. He compartmentalises the two major aspects of his life: on and off the field. The two live dangerously close to each other, but it has left many baffled as to just how he manages to keep the two apart.Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, who has worked closely with Shakib since his school days and most recently was his coach with Fortune Barishal at the BPL, said that the way Shakib separates the on-field and off-the-field aspects of life, is entirely the cricketer's doing. He cannot be coached in this aspect."It is quite a surprising aspect," Fahim said. "He probably puts himself into a bubble which keeps out the external factors. He has this in him. He can switch at the last moment. But once he is in the field, he is at his best from nowhere. We have seen it many times. He stays in his bubble. He has a generally very positive mentality. He doesn't look back. It is purely a mental skill. It cannot be taught or coached."Last year, Shakib's commercial interests and decision around (not) touring certain countries caused much friction between him and the BCB. On both occasions, he had to relent. Shakib also withdrew from the sponsorship of a betting company (masked as a sports website) after the BCB pulled him up. This happened before the 2022 Asia Cup and T20 World Cup season, when he was about to be named the new captain. Bangladesh had their best T20 World Cup to date, with Shakib leading the side into a new direction in the format.Two years ago, Shakib kicked and threw down the stumps in an extraordinary outburst during a Dhaka Premier League (domestic one-day competition) match. It didn't take him too long to bounce back from this incident, too.One of the reasons why Shakib recovers quickly from these incidents is because of how leniently the BCB has treated him over the years. Only last year did the board really get him to tour when he refused to, or prohibit him from signing a commercial partnership that was against the board's policy. Even so, for the stump throwing incident, he was banned for only three games. On many occasions over the years, the BCB has reduced Shakib's punishment, or ignored his controversies altogether.It's just as likely that that his tryst with the Dubai store owner will first be swept under the carpet, and then forgotten by the public and media. If that happens, it will serve as yet another example of Shakib getting away with hardly a slap on the wrist. Or, is it another example of Shakib expertly compartmentalising his life on and off the field?He never lets one interfere with the other. As a great allrounder, Shakib often covers for a batting failure with a bowling masterclass. When it concerns his off-the-field incidents, he smoothly covers it with an on-field performance that takes away everyone's attention.Shakib Al HasanBangladeshIreland in Bangladesh
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84