Bangladesh began their preparation in hot and humid conditions on Thursday as they prepared for the upcoming three-match T20I series against India, scheduled to begin at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium in Gwalior on 6 October.

Bangladesh begin life without ShakibThe heat in Gwalior was 34 degree Celsius according to weather updates, but it felt like 40 degree plus    if the humidity is taken into consideration in the city when Tigers started their preparation, precisely at 1:00 pm.

Bangladesh will start a new era with the three-match T20I series as they will begin their journey without the ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, as he announced his retirement from T20I cricket recently.

It will be a big call for the team management to get a replacement for Shakib immediately. According to Bangladesh’s former spin coach Mushtaq Ahmed, Tigers need to get someone who can also bat left-handed down the order, , which Shakib used to do earlier,  apart from having Mehidy Hasan and Mahedi Hasan.

“I think both Mehidy and Mahedi, they all can bat. But they are right-handers. I’m not saying right-handers cannot win you matches. Opposition always struggles when you have left-handers in your middle overs. I think Mehidy and everyone who plays white ball cricket, they have to improve their batting like Shakib used to do. Obviously they need to win matches with the bat also,” Mushtaq told Daily Sun on Thursday.

“I think you can say on behalf of me, that’s a great opportunity for the people who were waiting many many years( after Shakib left T20Is). Especially Mehidy, if he is getting his opportunity, he should get his opportunity done. And they have to be big-hearted players,” he said, adding that the biggest strength of the southpaw was his big heart.

“Shakib’s strength was that he was a big player because he got a big heart. He was never worried about the failures. In international cricket, you need to have a big heart. That’s why you need good people and good coaches around the players. I think that’s important for Mehidy, both Mehidys to get the opportunity and they avail the opportunity for Bangladesh and for themselves also,” he said.

Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha echoed the same sentiment when his attention was drawn regarding the left-arm spinner.

“I think succession plans are always there, especially at this stage of his career,” Chandika told reporters after their loss in the second Test at Kanpur.

“You are not getting a like-for-like replacement for someone like Shakib,” he added.

How Bangladesh begin their journey without Shakib remains to be seen but before that, they need to adapt with the heat as that seems to be their major priority.  

On the opening day of preparation, all the batters spent time in the middle while the pace bowling unit were having a good competition among themselves, which is growing stronger with each passing day.