Focussing On Game, Not Shakib's Absence, Says Mahmudullah

Commenting on his strategy for Sunday's clash, Mahmudullah said his side's focus will be on their batting and will try to put a big score as it will hand their bowlers a platform to prove themselves

Reacting to Shakib’s absence in the India series, Bangladesh T20I skipper Mahmudullah said that while the whole team is behind Shakib Al Hasan, he also believes that players like Shakib are not made in a day and it would be difficult for anyone to replace him. Bangladesh Test and T20I captain Shakib Al Hasan received two year ban from all cricket, with one year suspended, after accepting three charges of breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code. "We all know Shakib has been a great performer for Bangladesh. We know he did a mistake, but not a crime. We all are right now focussing on tomorrow's game as it would be a perfect opportunity for our youngsters to step up and showcase their skills," Mahmudullah said. "It is difficult to replace him (Shakib). Players like Shakib are not made in a day," he further opined.

When asked what he has learnt from Shakib and Bangladesh's ODI skipper Mashrafee Mortaza, Mahmudullah said: "We have been playing together for a while. Shakib has been a great leader and Mashrafee has been another good motivator. I will try to step up and be a good leader. It is a great opportunity for me to lead my side. We have to play as a team and execute our skills." Commenting on his strategy for Sunday's clash, Mahmudullah said his side's focus will be on their batting and will try to put a big score as it will hand their bowlers a platform to prove themselves. When asked about the current pollution-related concerns in the national capital, Mahmudullah said: "We had a chat about this (the conditions) with our management and players. It is something which is not probably in our control. We are focussing on our game and want to win it."