As Bangladesh brace to take on India in the first of the three T20I matches here on Sunday, the skipper of the shortest format of the game Mahmudullah Riyad has acknowledged the enormity of the challenge his team face but said the visiting team can pull off a win if they can capitalize on all the opportunities that come
their way.
The absence of the world cricket’s top Shakib Al Hasan in the T20I and the two-Test series which will follow later is undoubtedly a big blow, Mahmudullah told reporters in Delhi on the Bangladesh team’s arrival in Delhi on Wednesday evening.
However, he expressed the hope that the absence of Shakib and Tamim Iqbal, who pulled out of the India tour, would motivate his team to do even better and also pointed to the national colours as the biggest source of
inspiration.
“Bangladesh will work as a team to try and bring down a strong Indian side in their home conditions,” he said.
"Of course, I think he (Shakib) is a major part of Bangladesh cricket. There's no doubt about it. We know how important he is for our team,” said Mahmudullah.
He said he was aware of the fact India’s formidable record as an unbeaten side in the last 11-12 series (India have won 11 successive Test series at home but does not rule out the impossible.
For that, “we have to play really well as a team. We have to assure that we take all the chances and execute every opportunity. Then we can win,” the Bangladesh T20I captain said.
Wicket-keeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim agreed with Mahmudullah. He said Shakib’s absence presented a great opportunity for the younger lot to prove their worth at the highest level of the game.
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam, who made his T20I debut earlier this year against Zimbabwe, was included in the T20I squad in place of Shakib while Mohammad Mithun and Imrul Kayes were inducted after Bangladesh had to make changes due to the absence of Tamim Iqbal and Mohammad Saifuddin.
Mithun replaced Tamim, who decided to stay with his wife with the couple expecting their second child, while Abu Hider Rony came in place of Saifuddin who was ruled out of the series because of a recurring back injury.
"I have been playing with Shakib for many years now. We will certainly miss him and without him it will be tough. But it will be a huge opportunity for the young cricketers,” he said adding “if we play at their [India's] home, there will be challenges. And if there is challenge, then there will be platform to play well."
The first T20I match will be begin at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in central part of Delhi at 7pm Indian time and end at 11pm. Those are also the timings of the two other T20I encounters in Rajkot and Nagpur on November 7 and 10 respectively.
Meanwhile, the first T20I match will take place at a time when Delhi has been experiencing one of the worst air pollution phases.
Indian media reports said that because of the air pollution, Indian players could give outdoor training sessions a miss and spend more time at the gym.
