I hope we can fill Shakib Bhai's void well: Hridoy

Bangladesh is set to take on India in the first match of a three-match T20 series in Gwalior tomorrow. This marks Bangladesh's first outing in T20s since the retirement of all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. In a pre-series press conference, batter Tawhid Hridoy expressed optimism, saying, "I hope we can fill Shakib Bhai's void well."

Shakib Al Hasan surprised everyone before the second Test against India in Kanpur when he announced that he had played his final T20 match for the national team during the last T20 World Cup. Following the Test match, he returned to the United States.

Without Shakib, the Bangladesh team will face the challenge of assembling their playing XI. During the press conference in Gwalior, Hridoy acknowledged the absence of Shakib but remained hopeful about the team's future. "We will definitely miss Shakib Bhai. One day or another, we all have to move on. I hope we will welcome a new player well."

"Shakib Bhai is not here, and we will miss him. But at some point, everyone in the national team has to leave. I believe we can fill his absence effectively."

Despite facing a strong Indian team on their home ground, Hridoy remains optimistic. "We have come here to win. This is a big opportunity for us to win the series. Before coming here, we practiced in Dhaka, and I believe we are well-prepared. Everyone wants to perform well here, and we will give our best effort. There will always be pressure in international cricket, but if we let the pressure get to us, we won’t perform well. Our focus is on performing well and bringing the result in our favor.