West Indies (BBN)-Ahead of the first ODI against the West Indies, Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim has said that the absence of star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan from the tour will be felt hard within his side.
Shakib, former Bangladesh skipper, is serving a six-month suspension meted out to him by the cricket board due to ‘misbehaviour’ with new head coach Chandika Hathurusingha and his squabble with a spectator during three-ODI series against India in June.
The leading all-rounder starred with both bat and ball when Bangladesh last toured the Caribbean in 2009, when under his leadership, they went on to win both the Test and ODI series, reports gocricket.
For his 159 runs, including a match-winning unbeaten 96 and his 13 wickets in the two Tests, Shakib was named the player of series which Bangladesh swept 2-0.
He repeated his show in the three-ODI series sweep that followed with 135 runs including two half-centuries and two wickets.
“He has been our best player in the last eight to ten years,” Mushfiqur said on the eve of the first ODI at St. Georges, Grenada. “Of course we will miss him. The series will be a difficult one without Shakib. But in our last series, against India, some new young players have stepped up. This is yet another opportunity to have a closer look at them before the World Cup.”
Bangladesh’s only overseas Test wins have come in Zimbabwe and West Indies and Rahim said that a more consistent show is what he is wanting from his players this time around.
“We have done well in ODIs back home but we have had problems with consistency overseas. We have addressed it, and we look forward to it. It is going to be a big challenge for us but the boys are up for it, they are hungry and ready to do well. We are not a strong team on paper, but if we do well in the field and execute the plans, then hopefully it will be a great series for us,” he said.
Bangladesh’s tour started on a winning note as they scored a comfortable 95-run win over Grenada in the 50-over warm-up tie on Sunday. Out of the current side, opener Imrul Kayes and offspinner Sohag Gazi had toured the West Indies in May earlier this year with the Bangladesh A squad and Rahim is banking on their experience of playing here recently.
“We will try to take advantage of our Bangladesh A players in the side. At the same time, the practice game was great for us. Our batters and bowlers did well. The outfield wasn’t great but the players are in good shape,” he said.
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BBN/ANS-20Aug14-8:20pm (BST)
