Shakib-al Hasan is as good as two players. So with both him and Tamim Iqbal out, Bangladesh go into the two-Test series versus India without three players, not two.

That’s how captain Mominul Haque looks at the situation for his team.

“I think we’ll be missing three players… Shakibbhai alone is equal to two players,” Mominul said on the eve of the first Test.

Up against a side that for the last few years have done little or no wrong in home Tests, Mominul had no other option but to try and put up a brave face.

“It will be challenging, but it’s of no use now to keep thinking about it. We have to move on.

“Also, I think due to their absence, everyone is more focused and will look to play with extra responsibility,” he said.

Mominul was asked about his team’s chances especially as India go into the series after a 3-0 demolition of South Africa. “Actually, we are not under that much of pressure as there are lesser expectations,” was his straight-faced reply that drew flak from the visiting Bangladeshi journalists.

So does that mean Bangladesh play the Test without any hopes or expectations of a positive result, one of them shot back at Mominul.

“I didn’t mean to say that. What I meant was that there’s no burden of expectations on us,” the skipper replied. “I always try to think about the present, not about the past or the future.

“We are having a good opportunity and we are aiming to play good cricket here. We will try to do our best.”