Opportunity there, but will it be grabbed?
A big call was made yesterday when Anamul Haque Bijoy was included in Bangladesh's Asia Cup squad as a replacement for Liton Das, who was suffering from a fever that saw him miss the Sri Lanka-bound flight on August 27 with the rest of the Tigers' contingent.
The Tigers' selection panel waited till the last minute to announce Anamul as Liton's replacement, a decision that raised eyebrows as Anamul had neither been in the 32-member preliminary squad for the Asia Cup nor was he added to the camp when preparations for the six-nation tournament had begun.
However, skipper Shakib Al Hasan regarded Anamul as a "like-for-like replacement'" for Liton at the top order while also saying the team needed a backup opener.
Even though Shakib had gotten a like-for-like replacement for Liton, the skipper did not deny how much the team would miss the services of a seasoned campaigner like Liton at the top of the order, especially in a tournament of such magnitude.
"Of course, he [Liton] is a big miss as he was part of this team for the last four-five years consistently and has been playing very well in the last couple of years," Shakib said during the pre-match press conference in Kandy yesterday.
Shakib, however, also sees it as an opportunity for others to step up.
"This [Liton's absence] will give someone else an opportunity and I hope that whoever gets that opportunity will grab it with both hands," the skipper hoped.
How far will Bangladesh make it into the continental championship will depend heavily on whether Shakib's hopes to see someone else "grab the opportunity" materialise. For that to happen, the Tigers' team management might have to make a number of adjustments to the top of the order.
Shakib might have said that Anamul was a "like-for-like" replacement for Liton, but according to sources close to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), the need for putting up a left-right combination in the opening slot might have played a role in calling up a right-handed Anamul who could pair with a left-handed opener Naim. However, it still does not guarantee Anamul a spot in the starting eleven.
Meanwhile, questions also remain over how much confidence the team management puts in on two young openers -- Naim and Tanzid Tamim.
So, who could be the ones handed the responsibility to face the music with the new ball today or even in the ensuing games in this Asia Cup? Will it be any of the three recognised openers now available in the squad? Or, will Bangladesh be bold and try something new and different?
Shakib did not totally rule out the possibility of the latter.
Asked if Shakib could promote himself up the order, the wily 34-year-old all-rounder replied: "Even if I have that plan, I can't tell you that. But definitely, we have some plans. We have an opportunity to test our backup players, newcomers will have the chance to do something well."
As things stand, whichever way the Tigers might prefer to go in the tournament for their opening slot -- whether it is to give in to their long-known penchant for fielding a left-right combination by opting for Naim alongside Anamul, or to put two left-handers in Naim and Tanzid Tamim, or make a drastic promotion from down the order -- one thing is certain that the top-order challenge has gotten more intensified for the Tigers for this Asia Cup.