Tigers set to depart for Asia Cup today

Bangladesh are set to fly for the UAE today evening, having participated in two practice matches at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Sunday and Monday respectively.

Injuries have plagued the Tigers in the build up to the Asia Cup and there were a few changes to the Asia Cup-bound team, with left-handed opener Mohammad Naim included in the side yesterday to bolster the opening slot after Liton Das was ruled out of the Asia Cup. Anamul Haque Bijoy and Parvez Hossain Emon are the other recognised openers in the squad.

Naim, who played his last T20I match at home against Afghanistan before being dropped for poor form, got into the side following his ton with the Bangladesh A side in the West Indies. He will join the side in Dubai on Tuesday.

Pacer Hasan Mahmud, who suffered an injury to his right ankle while training on August 20th, was ruled out of the Asia Cup after being sidelined for up to three weeks. Wicketkeeper-batter Nurul Hasan Sohan was also been ruled out following surgery on the index finger on his left hand.

The practice match played between Bangladesh Green and Bangladesh Red, should provide the team some cause for relief before flying to UAE.

Shakib Al Hasan's Reds won the toss and put up 219 runs on the board against the likes of Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Ebadot Hossain and Nasum Ahmed. The Powerplay produced 67 runs for a wicket as Mehedi Hasan Miraz (46 off 34) and Shakib (30 off 19) put on a 60-run stand. Afif Hossain powered to a fifty off just 28 deliveries before Mosaddek Hossain put the finishing touches to the innings with a 20-ball 48.

With newly-appointed T20 technical consultant Sridharan Sriram in charge of the Tigers at the Asia Cup and Russell Domingo excluded from T20I plans, the team management will be hoping for similar batting efforts in UAE.