Bangladesh cricket team gears up for the post-Shakib Al Hasan era as they prepare for a three-match T20I series against India. The team looks to Mehidy Hasan Miraz as a key player in Shakib’s absence.
BollywoodFever: As the Bangladesh national cricket team began their preparations for the upcoming three-match T20I series against India, discussions in the dressing room revolved around how they would adapt to life without their ace all-rounder, Shakib Al Hasan. The veteran announced his retirement from T20I cricket ahead of the second Test in Kanpur, ending a T20I career that spanned 17 years and 209 days, making him Bangladesh’s highest run-getter and wicket-taker in the format.
With Shakib’s absence, Bangladesh is looking towards Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who returns to the T20I squad after 14 months, to potentially fill the significant void. However, it raises questions about whether Mehidy will replace Mahedi Hasan, who has been one of the best in the powerplay overs.
Former national spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed sees this as an opportunity for players like Mehidy and Mahedi to step up. “It’s a great opportunity for the people who have been waiting for years after Shakib became a permanent fixture in the T20I setup,” Mushtaq told Cricbuzz. He also emphasized that the new players need to be “big-hearted” like Shakib, noting that Shakib’s success came from taking risks and remaining aggressive in international cricket.
Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha acknowledged that finding a replacement for Shakib would be no easy task. You are not getting a like-for-like replacement for someone like Shakib,” Hathurusingha said, but confirmed that a succession plan is in place.
The team also faces another challenge — the heat. Bangladesh’s preparations on Thursday at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium in Gwalior were met with temperatures reaching 34°C, with humidity making it feel like over 40°C. The stadium, hosting its first international match, is still undergoing final preparations as security ramps up ahead of the first T20I on October 6, amid calls for a Bandh by right-wing groups.
How Bangladesh adapts to these conditions and the absence of Shakib remains to be seen, but the series will mark the beginning of a new chapter for the T20I squad.
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