Can't rejoice over absence of two Bangla stalwarts: Karthik

India stumper Dinesh Karthik feels that it will be foolish if they take Bangladesh for granted considering players Shakib-al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal are out

Mirpur: India stumper Dinesh Karthik feels that it will be foolish on their part if they take Bangladesh for granted considering their two premier performers Shakib-al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal are out due to various reasons.


Dinesh Karthik

Tamim has been rested for the tournament due to neck strain while Shakib has been suspended for three games for making obscene gesture on camera.

"Bangladesh are a fantastic one-day team. They had a couple of close games against Sri Lanka. Everybody knows that they are a very good one-day unit," Karthik told reporters on the sidelines of the team’s practice at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium here.

Incidentally, it was in the last Asia Cup both the teams clashed for the last time, with Bangladesh chasing down 290 with disdain, a result that had cost India a berth in the final.

"Definitely, we all know they are a good one-day side and we will give them a lot of respect," Karthik said of Bangladesh who won 3-0 in a series against New Zealand before going down to Sri Lanka by an identical margin.

On the absence of Tamim Iqbal who has been ruled out because of a neck strain and the suspension of Shakib, the 28-year-old said: "Tamim and Shakib are going to be replaced by two people who we may not know much."

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