India vs Bangladesh | Shakib : It will be difficult for us but that is why we play cricket

02/06/2017

Bangladesh star Shakib Al Hasan is wary of the threat India poses and has acknowledged that it will be difficult for the visitors to get a positive result in the one-off Test starting in Hyderabad on Feb 9. Shakib also expressed his excitement at Bangladesh's first-ever Test on Indian soil.

"Playing a Test in India for the first time is exciting. We know it is not easy and India is number one at the moment. It will be difficult for us but that is why we play cricket - face the challenge and do well,” the all-rounder said.

Shakib was also quick to brush off comparisons between him and Ashwin but praised the Indian spinner for his recent performances. He said, "There is no competition. I do not think of it that way nor does he. In fact I think no one thinks of it that way. He is doing well from his place and I am trying to do well at my end. The better I do the more help the team gets. The importance of a player differs from team to team. I will be happy if I get to contribute for my team in the role I am in.

"He has been bowling really well for India for the last 2-3 years. The control makes him different. He does whatever he wants to do with the ball. If you can do that, you don't need to do anything else as a bowler. His control and the confidence makes him the No 1 bowler at the moment."

Bangladesh are currently playing a two-day tour game against an India A side in Hyderabad. The visitors were restricted to 224 in the first innings with Rajasthan left-arm pacer Aniket Choudhary taking four wickets.

"It's a big thing for me that I came to India A and doing well and took four wickets. It is a good feeling for me," the 27-year-old Choudhary said. "The wicket suited my bowling.”

He missed out on a hat-trick opportunity in the 61st over of the day. "The ball was changed. The ball (we were bowling) became old and soft. Then, we spoke to the umpire, spoke to the skipper that we should change the ball. The umpire said okay. I missed five wickets as there was a good chance but it's okay. Next time, I will definitely take," Choudhary said.

It's very important for me to play for country. I have been doing well in Ranji trophy. I got this chance also," he added.