Going without your best T20 bowler is difficult, says Shakib

Bangladesh's ace all-rounder and T20 captain Shakib Al Hasan said that not having Mustafizur Rahman in the series against Afghanistan, naturally presents a few problems for the Tigers.

Bangladesh star pacer Mustafizur Rahman has been ruled out of the Afghanistan series due to a fracture on the big toe of his left foot and the injury will see him sit on the sidelines for three to four weeks. The star pacer succumbed to the injury while playing for Mumbai Indians in an IPL encounter against Delhi Daredevils on May 20.

Mustafizur has huge experience of playing on Indian surfaces having featured in the IPL. In his breakthrough season, he made an enormous impact as his side Sunrisers Hyderabad won the title in 2016. This season he featured in seven matches for his new team Mumbai Indian, picking up seven wickets.

For Shakib, it is obviously difficult to go into a series without Mustafizur since he spearheads the Bangladesh attack.

"Naturally there will be some problems. He is our best T20 bowler and so it will be difficult [without him].

However, Shakib insisted that it would present an opportunity for the other bowlers to shine.

"It will be another opportunity for some one else. Whoever gets that opportunity he will have to grab that chance and make it count."

Shakib also stated that Tigers' focus will be to play the series match by match stated the importance of starting well in the series.

"The first match is important. If we can manage to start well, then the momentum will be with us. It will make our job easier in the next two matches," Tigers' T20 captain concluded.