Bangladesh’s batsman Najmul Hossain Shanto has been ruled out from the Asia Cup 2023 due to a hamstring injury. In his absence, the experienced batsman Liton Das is poised to step in as his replacement in the team.
Najmul Hossain Shanto, who emerged as the leading run-scorer for Bangladesh in the 2023 Asia Cup, unfortunately, won’t be able to continue in the tournament due to an injury. Shanto sustained a left hamstring tear while scoring an impressive 104 runs during the match against Afghanistan last Sunday.
The day after his injury, an MRI examination confirmed the muscle tear, leading the medical team to recommend that Shanto take some well-deserved rest. This decision aims to ensure his full recovery and readiness for the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, which is just around the corner, starting in a month’s time.
The team got off to a poor start in the ongoing Asia Cup tournament when they suffered a setback against Sri Lanka in their initial match. But they bounced back in their second game against Afghanistan, courtesy to the efforts of Shakib Al Hasan and his teammates, securing them a position in the Super Four.
Unfortunately, along with their qualification came a string of injuries. Key players like Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Mustafizur Rahman are sidelined, making the scenario even more hard for Bangladesh. Shanto, who played a vital part in their victory over Afghanistan, also experienced a hamstring injury in that encounter.
It’s important to recognize the crucial contributions of Shanto and Mehidy Hasan in the Afghanistan encounter. Shanto scored an outstanding 104 runs off 105 deliveries, while Hasan managed to gather 112 runs off 119 deliveries before he was forced to withdraw owing to finger cramps. Their performances helped Bangladesh record a formidable total of 334 runs, which they defended well, winning the game by 89 runs. This victory enabled them to rebound from their earlier setback to Sri Lanka and advance in the competition.
Given the present injury issue within the Bangladesh team, their plans for the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup 2023 may suffer substantial interruptions. However, they are confident that the return of Litton, who was sidelined due to illness in the earlier stages of the tournament but has now been cleared by the medical staff, would provide some recompense in the absence of Shanto.
