The following month, Bangladesh toured South Africa for two Tests, three ODIs, and a T20I. While Bangladesh lost all their matches against South Africa except for an abandoned ODI, Shakib continued to build on the good bowling form he had found against New Zealand. On the first day of the opening Test, Shakib went wicketless; on the advice of Mohammad Salauddin, Bangladesh's assistant coach, he gave the ball flight on the second day and went on to take five wickets. He took another five-wicket haul in the second Test, again as Bangladesh lost to South Africa. Along with South Africa's Makhaya Ntini, Shakib was the series' leading wicket-taker with 11 at an average of 20.81. Shakib's performance against South Africa in a losing cause prompted former Australian leg spin bowler Kerry O'Keeffe to describe him as the "world's best finger spinner at the moment". Sri Lanka toured Bangladesh in December 2008 and January 2009 for two Tests and a Tri-nation tournament including Zimbabwe. Sri Lanka won both Tests and the tournament final, although Shakib turned in a man of the match performance, scoring 92 not out, in the second ODI against Sri Lanka helped Bangladesh to their only victory against them on the tour. In the first match of the Test series, Shakib took another five-wicket haul as his team again was defeated.