Playing alongside English Premier League footballer Hamza Choudhury was the best-ever experience of his playing career, said Bangladesh forward Sheikh Morsalin.

The men in red and green returned home yesterday afternoon from Shillong following a goalless draw against India in their first Asian Cup Qualifiers fixture where Hamza, according to Morsalin, led the team on the pitch throughout the 90 minutes.

"India are better than Bangladesh in FIFA ranking but we are pretty similar in strength on the pitch. We proved it again yesterday [Tuesday]. Securing one point from the opening match is important for us," Morsalin told The Daily Star in the evening following a long journey from Shillong via Kolkata to the capital of Bangladesh.

Hamza is scheduled to leave for England this morning.

"We had a plan to secure three points and as per the plan, we created pressure on them from the beginning. But unfortunately we could not finish the moves. I think if we could have opened the scoring, more goals would have come," Morsalin said. "However, it is also important that we did not concede a goal as we defended well as a team."

Bangladesh footballers Sheikh Morsalin and Hamza Choudhury during training. Photo: BFF

Hamza was everywhere of the pitch -- from making crucial blocks and tackles to starting off attacking moves. Morsalin termed Hamza's debut performance as outstanding.

"It was a big experience for me to play alongside Hamza. I think it was the best-ever experience in my football career because he is an outstanding performer on and off the field. Hamza basically led Bangladesh team because he instructed each and every player what to do and how to react," said the teenage footballer, who played in front of Hamza.

"He also instructed me to follow him and I tried to follow his instructions and reacted accordingly. I can't make you understand how big player he is," added Morsalin.

Not only on the pitch, Morsalin said he also benefited from Hamza's company, having stayed in the room next to Hamza's at the Vivanta Meghaylaya hotel in Shillong.

"As we wear No. 7 and No. 8 jerseys, our rooms were also next to each other's. He provided me with a lot of information, which he also did with the other players. It never felt like Hamza is an English Premier League player because he has no ego."

Bangladesh got off to a sparking start against India by creating a couple of good chances within the first 15 minutes but neither Mojibur Rahman Jonny nor Shahriar Emon could capitalise on the opportunities provided. Morsalin himself fed Emon with a free-header in front of goal but the latter failed to make that opportunity count.

"I could have been in place of Emon. If Emon did not jump, Tapu (Barman) bhai might have got the ball easily. But in the end it's all part of the game," the Bashundhara Kings midfielder said, adding that they felt under pressure after captain and centre-back Tapu left the ground following a hamstring injury early in the game.

Asked what they would like to achieve in the home game against Singapore on June 10, Morsalin said: "Now we want to focus on the front domestic engagement for our clubs and then think of the next match when it get closer."