Bangladesh has been hit by a significant setback ahead of the Asia Cup 2023, as vice-captain Litton Das has been ruled out of the tournament due to illness. Das, a reliable batsman for Bangladesh, was expected to play a crucial role in the team’s campaign. He did not travel with the team to Sri Lanka and was scheduled to join them later, but his fever has persisted.
In response to Das’s unavailability, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has named Anamul Haque Bijoy as his replacement in the 15-member squad. Anamul Haque has previously featured in 44 ODIs for Bangladesh and has scored 1254 runs, including three centuries. He last played an ODI match against India in 2022. The Chairman of the Bangladesh Selection Panel, Minhajul Abedin, explained that Anamul Haque’s inclusion was due to his good performance in domestic cricket and his abilities as a top-order batter and wicketkeeper.
Das’s absence poses a challenge for Bangladesh as they work to fine-tune their combinations ahead of the World Cup 2023. Not only is he a dependable batsman, but his wicketkeeping skills also contribute to the team’s balance. Over the past year, Das’s performances in the middle order have been instrumental in Bangladesh’s ODI successes.
With Anamul Haque joining the squad, the team is expected to adjust its lineup accordingly. Bangladesh is set to kick off its Asia Cup 2023 campaign by facing Sri Lanka on August 31. The updated squad includes notable players such as captain Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Mustafizur Rahman, among others.
