Shakib's absence will motivate us: Riyad

The absence of all-rounder Shakib Al Hassan will act as motivation to do well, Bangladesh T20I captain Mahmudullah Riyad said today as he led a 15-member side into the Indian capital for the first T20I to be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday.

"I think this [Shakib's absence] will work as motivation for us. I think there's no greater honour than playing for the country. The responsibility to lead the side lies with me and I will try to give it my all," Mahmudullah said.

"We have to play with our heart for the country," he said, acknowledging that it would be a difficult assignment.

Mahmudullah added: "It is a tough ask but not impossible. We have to perform as a team and ensure we take advantage of every opportunity."

Wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim said it was a challenge to beat India on their home turf but a challenge also meant an opportunity.

The turmoil-hit Bangladesh side reached Delhi a day after Shakib was handed a two-year ban, the second of which is suspended, for failing to report three corrupt approaches by alleged bookie Deepak Aggarwal.

Bangladesh will play three T20Is and two Tests, including the second in Kolkata, which will host its first day-night Test.

India will look to continue their good run at home although they will be without skipper Virat Kohli, who was rested for the T20I series. Opener Rohit Sharma will lead the Indian team in the three-match series.

Kohli will, however, return for the two-match Test series.

The Bangladesh team arrived in Delhi at a time when much of the focus was on the air pollution here, with former cricketers Gautam Gambhir and Bishan Singh Bedi weighing in on the issue.

Indian media reports said that because of the air pollution, Indian players could give outdoor training sessions a miss and spend more time at the gym.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi has not shown much improvement. In fact, pollution levels in the city remained in the 'severe' category as a blanket of smog hangs over the Indian capital. 

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the air quantity index was 416 at 11:00am local time today. On Tuesday, the overall air quality index was 414 at 8:00pm, worse than Monday's AQI of 397, according to the CPCB. 

An AQI between 0-50 is considered 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor', and 401-500 'severe'. Above 500 is 'severe-plus emergency' category.

Indian team management sources said the weather on Friday and Saturday would be looked at and the match should not be a major problem as it will be played at night. The issue is of training during daytime and that could be forgone if weather does not improve.

Nonetheless, Gautam Gambhir expressed concerns regarding Delhi's air quality, saying: "It is a far more serious issue than having a game of cricket or any other sports matches happens in Delhi. For us, I think people living in Delhi should be more concerned about the pollution levels rather than the cricket match that happens."

Bedi and India's football captain Sunil Chetri also spoke on similar lines. In fact, Chetri said that every time the footballers come to Delhi, their eyes and nose feel irritated.