Bangladesh cricketer Shakib Al Hasan has been left off the squad for the Tri Nations Series in Sri Lanka due to injury and is to be replaced by Liton Das.
The Bangladesh captain was declared unfit after an examination by an orthopaedic specialist from Thailand. The Bangladesh Cricket Board confirmed on Saturday that Shakib’s finger injury would prevent him from playing in Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh has an off-spinning all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz to make up for Shakib’s absence. Liton Das, who failed to perform in the T20s, has been recalled for the series.
Shakib suffered the injury in the final of the Tri-Nations Series against Sri Lanka in Bangladesh and was unable to play the subsequent Test and T20 series against the side. Mahmudullah will once again take up the position of captain in Shakib’s stead.
Bangladesh had anticipated Shakib would not be able to play in all the Sri Lanka matches, but had held up hope for a quicker recovery.
Shakib is currently undergoing 14 days of physiotherapy. BCB Chief Sports Doctor Debashish Chowdhury said the all-rounder’s condition would be re-evaluated after a week.
Liton Das, who failed to perform in last year’s tour in South Africa, has been in form in the Dhaka Premier League, scoring two centuries and a fifty in the past five matches.
Bangladesh will compete against India and Sri Lanka for the Nidahas Trophy starting on Mar 6 in Colombo.
Bangladesh T20 squad: Mahmudullah (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Mushfiqur Rahim, Sabbir Rahman, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Abu Haider, Abu Jahed, Ariful Haq, Nazmul Islam Apu, Nurul Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Liton Das.
