Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain said on Sunday that Mehidy Hasan needs to do well and fill the void of Shakib al Hasan as they prepare to play without the ace all-rounder in the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa as well. However, Bangladesh are well aware that finding a replacement for Shakib won’t be easy but Najmul added that Mehidy will be the one to take up the role as he has done well with both bat and ball recently.

However, Mehidy has played 12 Tests since 2022, scoring 600 runs at an average of 35.29 while claiming  48 wickets at an economy of 3.25 and an average of 28.08 as well.

“It is hard to match him (Shakib),” Najmul Hossain said. “We are struggling to find the right combination. It will take a bit of time. It is not within our control. I think the players have the ability to play their own roles. It is hard to match him (Shakib), especially for the captain. I don’t think wickets will change. We have to think about the extra batter or bowler. The No 7 becomes a crucial spot. We don’t have anyone exactly like Shakib bhai but Miraz can be a very good option.”

“He (Mehidy) is bowling and batting superbly. There are more responsibilities, which Miraz is prepared for. He has improved his batting. He is taking the team to good positions. If you look at the last few Tests. I would hope that Miraz can take that place (of Shakib) in the next couple of years,” he again stated.

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However, Najmul also added that it was unfortunate that Shakib al Hasan could not play the farewell Test at SBNS but again added that they are now eyeing to get over it and focus on cricket as well.

“We had plans to send off one of the world’s best players. All of us personally feel that it (his retirement) remains pending,” he said.”It is unfortunate. It shouldn’t have happened. We can’t spend too much time talking about it on the day before the Test match.”

Along with replacing Shakib, there are other issues that they need to handle ahead of the Test series, including the playing under newly-appointed head coach Phil Simmons as well.

“A lot of things have changed in the last five days. The new coach isn’t planning too much. He is new here. He is trying to understand everything. I know as a captain what the team is trying to do. Players know their role, and I have shared the plan with the new coach. We intend to utilize our wealth of experience at this venue. I don’t think we need to think too much about the previous coach and the new coach,” he said.

“He (Simmons) joined the team upon arrival. We spent a bit of time together. He wanted to know about the team environment. He is very new here. We are trying to understand each other, which I think will happen in the next one or two matches. We had both good and bad times under him (Chandika Hathurusingha). We won some matches, we lost too. We have to look forward, we can’t look back. It’s important how we play the coming Test. We are not thinking of the outside noise. We are focused on the match. We haven’t won against South Africa earlier. So this is a great opportunity given our team and that the fact that we playing at home,” he again shared.

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However, Najmul Hossain also added that Bangladesh have a great chance to earn their maiden win against South Africa as they are confident against a relatively less experienced South African side.

“We haven’t won against South Africa before so this is a great opportunity given our team and that the fact that we playing at home. I think they are a good team, although they are not experienced. We did well in Pakistan, but didn’t do well in India. I feel the Test team is in good stead. We feel it will be a good Test match if we can execute properly. Crucial would be session-by-session domination. Spinners usually have a strong role in Mirpur. They don’t have to try anything extra. They have to stick to the process, bowl every ball for the team. We have to find a way to take 20 wickets, which will become easier if we stick to the process,” Najmul Hossain concluded.