Published: Sep 21, 2018, 11:09 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 21, 2018, 11:09 PM (IST)
Bangladesh have called up top-order batsmen Soumya Sarkar and Imrul Kayes – both of whom played their last ODI for Bangladesh in October, 2017 – as cover of openers Liton Das and Nazmul Hossain Shanto for the reminder of the Asia Cup 2018.
“Yes we have called both of them (Imrul and Soumya) to join us,” Chief selector Minhajul Abedin told Cricbuzz.
After experienced Tamim Iqbal was ruled out of the Asia Cup sustaining a fracture in his left wrist in their opening fixture, Bangladesh’s troubled at the top of the order has only been exposed more with the lack of form of Liton and Nazmul. Including their Super Four match against India, Liton has managed scores of 0,6 and 7 while Nazmaul in his first two ODIs has failed to reach the double-figure with scores of 7 and 7.
Both of them have been asked to return back to Dhaka and board a flight to UAE tomorrow. The duo was participating in a four-day game in Khulna played between Bangladesh Red and Bangladesh Green, reported cricbuzz.
Sarkar, 25, has played 31 ODIs for Bangladesh – the last of which came against South Africa in East London in 2017 – and has scored 967 at 34.53. He played against the West Indies in all three T20Is in August this year.
Kayes, 31, with an experience of 70 ODIs has 1998 runs under his belt at 28.95 and his most recent outing for Bangladesh was in Tests against Sri Lanka at Dhaka in February this year.
