Hridoy confident despite Shakib's absence in T20I

Bangladesh is set to face India in the first T20I in Gwalior without ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who recently announced at a surprising press conference in Kanpur that his final T20I appearance was during the last T20 World Cup.

With a new lineup, Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy addressed the challenge of playing without Shakib during a press conference before their practice session.

"In international cricket, there's always pressure. If you let it affect you, it can hinder your performance," Hridoy stated. "We need to focus on our processes and ensure we perform well to get the desired results. Of course, Shakib bhai isn't with us, and we'll miss him, but every player has to step away eventually. We hope to overcome his absence and play effectively."

Shakib is reportedly weighing his options regarding a return to Bangladesh, having mentioned that he would require guarantees of safe passage after the upcoming Test series against South Africa, which he confirmed will be his final series. Without these guarantees, Shakib may not be able to commit to the tour.

Meanwhile, the T20I squad must adjust to playing without their key all-rounder. Hridoy expressed optimism about the upcoming match: "We have a great opportunity to perform well here. Our goal is clear—to win."

Tomorrow's match will be the first-ever international game held at the Gwalior venue, and Bangladesh has limited insight into how the pitch will behave.

Reflecting on their preparations, Hridoy added, "We've practiced here for two days, and the pitch seems slow and low. We've gathered information from the ground staff, and there have been some domestic matches here. It looks like a slow wicket, but we'll stick to our plan."