Bangladesh have been dealt with a massive blow in the form of batter Litton Das’ exclusion, as he has been ruled out of Asia Cup 2023.
Bangladesh has been stung hard by the terrible news of batsman Litton Das being ruled out of the forthcoming Asia Cup 2023. This setback comes as Litton couldn’t recuperate in time from a bout of viral illness, preventing him from following the team to Sri Lanka for the ACC competition.
The selection committee of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has formally verified Litton’s absence from the event and has also introduced his substitute. Stepping in to fill the vacancy is wicketkeeper-batter Anamul Haque Bijoy, who is slated to join the squad and is expected to make his way to the island nation on Wednesday, August 30.
Minhajul Abedin, Chairperson of the National Selection Panel, offered light on the selection process and indicated that Anamul had been a persistent competitor for a seat in the roster. This adjustment provides a like-for-like replacement, keeping the team’s balance.
“He (Anamul Haque Bijoy) has been in the runs in domestic cricket and we have continued to monitor him in the Bangladesh Tigers programme. He was always in our consideration. Due to Litton’s (Das) unavailability, we needed a top-order batter who could keep wicket and Anamul got the nod,” said Minhajul Abedin as quoted by the ICC.
Anamul has taken part in 44 ODIs and amassed a total of 1254 runs, marked by five half-centuries and three centuries, all adding up to an average of 30.58. Nevertheless, his most recent outing was in 2022, when he faced off against team India in the third ODI. In that match, he managed to put together only eight runs off seven deliveries.
Moving back a bit, fast bowler Ebadot Hossain found himself ruled out of the ACC event. This terrible situation happened due to a knee injury he sustained during the ODI series against Afghanistan in July. In light of this, the team strategists took the decision to throw their support behind the relatively untested 20-year-old fast bowler, Tanzim Hasan. This option was made as Tanzim was selected to step in for Ebadot, who is now in the process of recovery with the intention of making a timely return for the 2023 ODI World Cup slated for October.
The Bangla Tigers will commence on their trip in the Asia Cup as they take against co-hosts Sri Lanka on Thursday, August 31st. The action is slated to unfold at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy.
Updated Bangladesh squad:
Shakib Al Hasan (c), Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Naim Sheikh, Shamim Hossain, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Anamul Haque Bijoy
