Shakib's absence obviously a big loss for us: Domingo

DHAKA -Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo admitted that his side would face a tough challenge to bring a balance to the squad
due to the absence of ace allrounder Shakib Al Hasan, who was ruled out of
the Twenty20 World Cup due to his hamstring injury.

   The Tigers though are all but out of the semifinal race following their
three straight defeats at the hands of Sri Lanka, England and West Indies,
they would play for pride in the last two matches.

   First of the two matches is against South Africa tomorrow at the Sheikh
Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

   Terming Shakib a player as 'two in one', Domingo said, they have to
consider many things to find a replacement of him because they need a batter
and a bowler simultaneously to replace Shakib, who was key in helping
Bangladesh to reach Super 12 phase after a shocking defeat to Scotland in the
tournament opener.

   "Obviously (it's) a big loss. Just balancing the side without him, when
he's not there you go in either batsman light or bowler light. You might have
to play a part-time bowler," Domingo said during Bangladesh's pre-match
conference today.

   He added that Shakib's absence means that they also lost a 'leader' who
can bring calmness to the pressure situation.

   "Obviously a big loss for the balance of this side. But also in terms of
his leadership and the calmness that he brings around the environment in
pressure situations, that aspect will be lost."

   At the same time, Domingo sees Shakib's absence as a chance for the player
who will replace him in the last two World Cup matches.

   "But it does provide an opportunity for someone new to maybe make his
first World Cup appearance tomorrow, and we've got to see that as a positive
for whoever that young player is going to be tomorrow," he concluded. BSS