HAVING reached the knock-out stages of the Indian Premier League with Kolkata Knight Riders, Shakib Al Hasan is hoping he can have the same effect with Worcestershire Royals in the Friends Life t20.

The 24-year-old joined up with his County team-mates over the weekend only for the clash with Durham Dynamos to be rained off.

However, the Bangladesh captain, who enjoyed a successful spell with the County last season, is hoping the New Road side can buck the trend and reach the last eight of the t20.

“If all the boys contribute, then why not?” said Shakib, who had not arrived in England in time for last Friday’s eight-run defeat at Lancashire Lightning. “If they do, we will have a very good chance.

“We have some good young players who can do well in the short form of the game.”

While Shakib did not get much of an opportunity to show his explosiveness with the bat in the IPL, the slow left-arm bowler is hoping that he can show his all-round ability during his time at New Road.

Batting at six or seven for the Knight Riders, the world number two one-day international all-rounder only had three opportunities with the bat.

His top score was 26 off 16 balls in his final match in the IPL but Shakib did take 11 wickets at 15.9 in his seven matches.

However, now back at New Road, he hopes to add extra firepower to Worcestershire’s explosive batting line-up.

“I didn’t get too much of a chance to bat up the order in the IPL,” he said. “But I thought that I contributed to the team.

“I thought I bowled really well and I’m happy with how I performed.

“It would have been nice to have got some more runs but I only batted at number six or seven.

“I think I will get a good chance of batting in the top four while I’m here so I can prove myself and do well.

“For me, it’s very important to do well in both batting and bowling. If I do, I will be very happy.”

Following his nine-week stint at Worcestershire last season, when he took 35 wickets in eight County Championship matches to help Steve Rhodes’ side win promotion to Division One, Shakib was busy on the international circuit with series against New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Australia as well as the World Cup.

It is that experience, as well as his previous spell with the County, he is hoping to share with Worcestershire’s youngsters.

“When you play so much international cricket you learn so much and, if I can pass some of that on to the young players here, I will be very happy,” he added.

“The last time I was here I enjoyed every moment of it. I think it helped to improve my cricket.

“When I went back home after playing here I performed well, especially with my batting.

“You have to face different kind of conditions every time you play home and away so you get a chance to learn from many things.”