What will Bangladesh’s final eleven composition look like when they take on India in the first T20I match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium here on Sunday?
According to the visiting team coach Russell Domingo, his use of younger talents of Bangladesh team would depend on pitch condition.
“If the pitch is flat, we will have an extra bowler and if the pitch does a little, maybe we will have an extra batsman,” he told reporters in reply to a question on Friday evening after Bangladesh players wrapped their training session.
Russell’s dilemma would not have been there had he had the services of the world’s top all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan who has been suspended for a year by the ICC for not reporting approaches by an Indian bookie.
Shakib's skills with the bat and the ball, which fetched him more 11,000 runs and over 500 wickets across all the three formats of the game, has made him a priceless possession for any team’s coach and Domingo is no exception.
The coach explained Shakib’s value as a player and how handicapped he is without the 32-year-old player.
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"He (Shakib) bats at No.3 Often, he opens the bowling, bowls first change, bowls four overs in every game, he is one of our leading batters. So, you need to decide whether you replace the batsman or do you replace the bowler. You can't replace both as it is very difficult to get players who provide both skills. So you might find yourself short in some department and strengthened in one department," Domingo pointed out. Domingo was blunt enough to acknowledged up front that Shakib’s absence would affect the team's performance against India in the upcoming T20 as well as Test series.
“He (Shakib) has been a big player for Bangladesh and is a close friend of a lot of players. So, it has obviously affected a few players. Obviously, he has made a mistake and he is paying the price for it," Domingo said.
"There's not much we can control. Obviously, it affects the team's performance but we need to be focused on the series and the World Cup (T20)," he added. Domingo said he has not had a chance to know Shakib personally but players have a great respect for him.
At the same time, he is hopeful that his younger and new players will step up to face the challenge against the formidable hosts in both the formats of the game.
“It is very difficult to fill Shakib's shoes but those available should try to do that." he added.
Domingo said he was not sure how Shakib's reintegration will happen once he returns after serving his ban period when he will be 33 years of age.
Bangladesh certainly does not relish Shakib’s absence at this stage of the country’s cricket especially after his fabulous performance against all teams in last summer’s World Cup in England, something that has made him a hero to millions of cricket-crazy Bangladesh fans. Besides, he has always led by example in all the three formats.
On the other hand, India is basking in the glory of a fine run in home series, including the recent one against South Africa. A key to India’s strategy against Bangladesh would be available whether it chooses to bat or bowl first in the event of winning the toss. In T20I, India relishes chasing down the target but are not comfortable in setting the target by batting first. Three instances of India’s discomfort with batting first in the shortest format in recent years are: (1) their loss to Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup final in Dhaka in 2014 (2) and the semifinal against the West Indies in 2016 and (3) the defeat against South Africa in Bengaluru last month.
More News: Razzak becomes first BD bowler to bag 600 first-class wickets.
A Really good news for India is that their stand-in T20I captain Rohit Sharma has been declared fit to play tomorrow's match. Rohit had given India an injury scare when he left Friday's training session midway after taking a hit on his abdomen.