Offended at seeing India selecting an under-strength squad, Bangladesh captain Musfiqur Rahim promised to give the side a fitting reply when the two teams play a three-match one-day international series in June. India rested seven senior cricketers – Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammad Shami and Shikhar Dhawan – and appointed Suresh Raina as captain to lead a bunch of young, inexperienced players.
‘I was not upset after seeing the team but certainly did not believe they would have taken us so lightly,’ Mushfiq told reporters on Thursday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
‘I hope we can give them a fitting answer in the playing field because that would be the best way,’ said Mushfiq, who joined the training camp after completing his personal vacation.
Mushfiq, however, refused to write off the young Indian side, which is sure to ooze some confidence gained in the Indian Premier League.
‘If you consider the names then certainly big names are missing from the squad,’ said Mushfiq.
‘But that does not mean it is a weak team because the team is formed with the players performing well in the IPL,’ said Mushfiq.
‘Rather than thinking who we are playing against, it is important to put in our best. We have struggled during the last two or three months.
‘If we can perform to the best of our ability and put up a united effort we could win no matter whether we are playing against Dhoni and Kohli.
India retained only six players – Varun Aaron, Stuart Binny, Amit Mishra, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane and Ambati Rayudu – from the squad that took part in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh in February-March.
The wicketkeeper-batsman took some guard against the expectation that is bound to rise after India decided to give their young players a go in the series, which kicks off on June 15.
‘After seeing the Indian squad I know the expectation would be higher,’ said Mushfiq. ‘Honestly against India the pressure is always bigger, everyone wants us to beat them so there is no use thinking about those things.’
India team will arrive on June 13 to play the series scheduled at the SBNS on June 15, 17 and 19.
-With New Age input
