Bangladesh received a huge blow as star batter and keeper Litton Das was ruled out of the Asia Cup 2023 which begins on August 30, 2023 and will be jointly hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The opening match will see Pakistan take on Nepal in Multan.
Litton Das has been ruled out of the 2023 Asia Cup after he was unable to recover from a viral fever. He did not travel to Sri Lanka for Bangladesh’s opening match in Pallekele.
Litton’s absence could prove to be a big blow for Bangladesh, who are chasing their first Asia Cup title. The 28-year-old has been Bangladesh’s highest run-getter in ODIs since the start of 2022 with 878 runs in 25 innings at an average of 41.80.
He has scored seven fifties and a century during this period, with a highest score of 136 against Afghanistan in February last year.
Anamul Haque Included In Bangladesh Squad For Asia Cup 2023
The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s National Selection Panel has named 30-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Anamul Haque Bijoy as his replacement, who is due to join the squad in Sri Lanka later today.
Bijoy has played 44 ODIs for Bangladesh and amassed 1254 runs, including three hundreds. In a home series against India in December of last year, he last played in an ODI.
“He (Anamul) 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 unavailability, we needed a top-order batter who could keep wicket and Anamul got the nod,” said Chairman of the National Selection Panel, Minhajul Abedin.
Bangladesh begin their Asia Cup campaign against tournament co-hosts Sri Lanka on 31 August, in Pallekele.
Updated Bangladesh squad: Shakib Al Hasan (Captain), 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