I’m not a big player like Shakib: Mushy

Bangladesh Test captain Mushfiqur Rahim says he is not as big a cricketer as Shakib Al Hasan.

"I'm not a big player like Shakib," the wicket-keeper-batsman responds while confronting with the question if he needs a break like Shakib. Shakib has been granted a break from the two-Test series against South Africa.

Mushfiqur however said that Shakib's absence from the two-Test series against the Proteas would be a setback.  

"Shakib not with us is a big setback. Had he been injured we would have played without him in any case. So, we are now thinking as a team. We want to play with what we have," Mushfiqur told reporters at the BCB headquarters in Mirpur today, prior to the departure for South Africa where the Tigers will play two Tests, three ODIs and a couple of T20Is.

The first batch of the Bangladesh team left Dhaka in the morning for Johannesburg. Mushfiqur will accompany to the second batch, scheduled to take a 7.30pm flight.

The key Bangladesh batsman also said that they need to take inspiration from their New Zealand tour last year when they played well despite suffering whitewash against the Black Caps.

"We have not played in SA since 2008. Last time when we went to NZ after a long time we played well. We hope that we can play competitive cricket in SA although it will be challenging," said the key Bangladesh batsman.

He also urged the fans not to be very critical of the non-performing young players of the team.

"Soumya (Sarkar), Sabbir Rahman are not performing to their potentials. They may not perform well (in South Africa) but my request is that they need the support from you in their desperate times. We normally need a long time to get this type of players," appealed Mushfiqur.