|| CF DESK ||

Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batsman Jakir Ali Anik has been called into the Bangladesh T20 squad for the upcoming three-match series against Sri Lanka as a replacement of off-spinner Aliss Islam.

Aliss sustained a finger injury while representing Comilla Victorians in the recently concluded Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 which ruled him out of the series.

"Aliss underwent an MRI, confirming a right middle finger MCP joint ligament sprain and swelling. His recovery is estimated to take two to three weeks, thus ruling him out of the series," said national team physio Bayjedul Islam Khan.

The 26-year-old Jakir showcased impressive form for Comilla Victorians in the recent BPL, amassing 199 runs at an average of 99.5 and a striking rate of 141.

Chairman of the National Selection Panel, Gazi Ashraf Hossain: "In addition to Aliss, we have three other frontline spinners in Rishad (Hossan), Taijul (Islam), and Shak Mahedi (Hasan) in the T20 squad.

“We believe that instead of adding another spinner to replace Aliss, the team's balance would be better served by including someone like Jakir Ali, who can bolster the middle or lower-middle order and serve as a finisher."

Squad:

Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Litton Kumer Das, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Md Naim Sheikh, Tawhid Hridoy, Soumya Sarkar, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Mahmud Ullah, Taijul Islam, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Jakir Ali Anik