Not calling in a single replacement for two batsmen who were unavailable for the second Test against India was a major talking point after Bangladesh were forced to use Mehidy Hasan Miraz as their concussion substitute for Liton Das.
Mehidy cannot bowl as he is coming in for a batsman and as per the ICC Playing Conditions, a concussion substitute has to be a like-for-like replacement and perform the same role as that of the concussed player.
Liton was hit on the helmet by a Mohammed Shami bouncer during the 20th over of Bangladesh’s innings. He decided to bat on, struck two fours but walked off seven balls after being hit.
Why the BCB didn’t replace two batsmen, Saif Hassan and Mosaddek Hossain, is not clear. Saif was ruled out on November 20, two days before the second Test, and although the distance between Dhaka and Kolkata is a 30-minute flight, no replacement was flown in.
Mosaddek meanwhile, had left the Test squad on November 11, even before the first Test, to be with his ailing family member, but the BCB didn’t name a replacement.
It questions the seriousness with which the squad was treated during their first series in the World Test Championship. Already there were questions about their preparation ahead of the Test series, and now their decision-making also looks shoddy.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84
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