Shakib Al Hasan Enters Politics, Reveals Bout With 'Hypertensive Retinopathy' During Bangladesh's Failed Cricket World Cup Campaign

Veteran Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan's batting in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 left a lot to be desired. The ODI skipper had scored only 186 runs in seven matches at an average of 26.57. But Shakib has now revealed that he faced a lot of discomfort while playing, due to blurred vision from stress-related issues. (Cricket News)
 
Shakib had blurred vision on one side of his left eye due to stress and it had a massive impact on his batting, according to a Cricbuzz report. "It is not in one or two games in the World Cup, rather I was having it (the eye problem) throughout the World Cup," Shakib was quoted as saying in the report. 

The 36-year-old is currently in his home town Magura, where he is busy with his parliamentary election campaign.

"It could have happened," he is quoted as saying in the report when asked if he was playing with one eye. "I had huge discomfort facing the ball," he added.

The report goes on to explain how stress leads to vision-related issues. The eye is considered an extension of the brain, as per medical science and so when stress affects the brain, it also affects the eyes and the vascular system. When stress hormones are released, they can directly impact vision. 

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Chronic stress increases risk for high blood pressure and it thickens blood vessels, while restricting blood flow to the retina. This is known as hypertensive retinopathy, and the symptoms include double vision and blurred or reduced vision.

"The thing is that when I went to the doctor there was water in my cornea or retina and they had given me drops and told me that I have to lower my stress. I am not sure whether that was the reason (for my eye problem). But when I again checked in America (after the World Cup) there was no stress and I told the doctor there is no World Cup so naturally there is no stress," the report quotes Shakib as saying.

Bangladesh were the first team to be eliminated from the 2023 ODI World Cup after their sixth consecutive defeat. Bangladesh won just two out of nine league games, registering victories against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.

Shakib is entering politics, but he has made it clear that he is not ready to bid goodbye to cricket. He added in the rpeort that he won't have any problems with the Bangladesh Cricket Board despite being in politics, which was the case with former skipper Mashrafe Mortaza once he entered politics.

"I think they (cricket and politics) can be managed. Managing time will not be a problem because I have done it in the past and can do it in future as well, and have full confidence on me to make that happen," Shakib says in the report. "I don't think that will be the case with me (having any misunderstanding with the board) because I am straightforward," he adds.