The team management, after discussions with chief selector Faruque Ahmed, decided that an extra batsman was the need of the hour following batting debacles in the ongoing Test series which culminated in the team being bowled out for its lowest Test total of 62 in the first innings of the just-concluded second Test match at the P Sara Stadium in Colombo.

Tushar, who was originally included among the one-day specialists, will arrive in Colombo this morning and travel with the team to Kandy to prepare for the final Test.

Talking to the Daily Star before departing, Tushar said that he was well prepared, both physically and mentally, to play at the Asgiriya Stadium.

"In my mind, I was ready to play after watching the two matches over the past weeks. The situation in Sri Lanka must have required me to travel earlier than expected," said the right-handed batsman.

"I hope to play the Test since I was called up in this way," added Tushar.

For a man with immense ability, Tushar has only played four Tests, last of which was incidentally in Sri Lanka two years ago.