We should play well for Shakib: Mushfiqur

Bangladesh stalwart Mushfiqur Rahim has said the Tigers should play well for Shakib Al Hasan, who was handed a two-year ban from cricketing activities by the ICC for not reporting corrupt approaches, reports news agency UNB.

Bangladesh cricket fraternity left shattered on 29 October evening when the International Cricket Council sent a press release to the media informing details about Shakib’s ban.

The star all-rounder would be free to resume his international career after 29 October in 2020 only if he maintains the conditions of the suspended part of the sanction.

“It’s not possible to get a replacement of Shakib overnight. Everyone knows how big he is as a cricketer. We’ll be missing him in the India series. We’ve to play better against India. We have to play well for Shakib,” Mushfiqur told the media at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport before flying for India.

“India are one of the best cricket teams in the world. They have been playing a good brand of cricket for a long time. So, it’s a real challenge to face them in the field. At the same time, you’ll get real inspiration when your oppositions are the world’s number one. You can’t guarantee a result in cricket,” the former Bangladesh Test captain added.

In the first part of India tour, Bangladesh will play a three-match T20 series against the hosts. The first match of the series will be held on 3 November in Delhi while the other two games will be played on 7 and 10 November respectively in Rajkot and Nagpur.

After the T20 series, both teams will lock horns in a two-match Test series, with the first Test being played in Indore from 14 November and the second Test in Kolkata from 22 November.

The second Test will be a day-night affair as both boards agreed upon playing their first day-night Test ever recently.