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[Saba Sports News] Bangladesh’s head coach Chandika Hathurusingha spoke about the challenge of replacing Shakib al Hasan in the lineup as the team gears up for their second match against New Zealand in Nelson on December 20. New Zealand, having a strong track record against Bangladesh, won the series opener and aims to continue their dominance.
Shakib’s absence in the series, owing to a finger injury from the World Cup, has left a significant gap in the team. Stand-in captain Najmul Hossain had previously indicated that Soumya Sarkar would play a crucial role in filling Shakib’s shoes. However, Hathurusingha acknowledged that it’s unrealistic to expect Soumya to match Shakib’s long-standing contributions.
Hathurusingha commented on Soumya’s role as an all-rounder, emphasizing his importance in balancing the team in Shakib’s absence. He expressed concern over Soumya’s form, noting his struggles in scoring runs despite a good domestic record. Soumya’s performance in the opening game, marked by dropped catches and a duck, further highlights this issue.
The coach also mentioned the potential inclusion of leg-spinner Rishad Hossain in the playing XI. Rishad had shown promise in a practice game against New Zealand XI, but the team opted for an extra batsman in the first match, considering their history of early wicket losses in New Zealand. Hathurusingha hopes for a high-scoring game in Nelson but remains uncertain about the pitch conditions, as they haven’t had a chance to assess the wicket fully.