Mahmudullah’s opportunity to fill big shoes left by Mash, Shakib

Bangladesh's newly-appointed T20 captain Mahmudullah Riyad said that he needs to step up his game in order to fill the big shoes left by his predecessors Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Shakib Al Hasan.

Shakib was banned from all forms of cricket for two years, with one year of that suspended after he failed to report approach by a bookie. Riyad was handed captaincy on an emergency basis before the tour of India but the captain reminded that the captaincy role is not new to him.

"I've done it before in T20s and Tests as well when Shakib was injured. We have to play as a team and show commitment and use our opportunities and execute our skills," he reiterated today during a press conference on the eve of the first T20I against India at Delhi.

He was seeing it as an opportunity rather than a burden in this crisis period for Bangladesh. "I don't think it's a burden. I am not thinking in that manner. I think it's a great opportunity for me to lead the side."

Riyad had also captained Bangladesh Premier League side Khulna Titans regularly and hoped to capture his predecessors' leadership qualities.

"We [Mashrafe, him and Shakib] have been playing together for a while. I think they are great leaders. Shakib has some amazing qualities and Mash has been a great motivator. I just need to step up my game and be a good leader," he concluded.