Bangladesh announce replacement for injured Aliss Al Islam for the Sri Lanka T20Is

Bangladesh Cricket Team suffered a blow just a few days ahead of the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. Off-spinner Aliss Al Islam was ruled out of the entire series due to the finger injury that he faced recently. 

Aliss Al Islam suffered a finger injury during the recently concluded Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) while representing Comilla Victorians. It was expected that he would get fit for the T20I series against Bangladesh but his injury seemed to be much worse than expected. 

Team physio Bayjedul Islam provided the fitness update about Aliss Al Islam, saying that he underwent an MRI scan which revealed that joint ligament sprain and swelling in his finger. The off-spinner will be taking two to three weeks to recover. Speaking in an official statement, he explained (as quoted by Cricbuzz): 

“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.” 

Bangladesh Cricket Team immediately announced the replacement for Aliss Al Islam. Keeper-batter Jaker Ali Anik will be joining the team for the three-match series against Sri Lanka. He was picked for the team based on his rollicking performances in BPL 2024. 

Chairman of Bangladesh selection committee Gazi Ashraf Hossain talked about the Jaker Ali Anik selection, saying that picking the keeper-batter would bolster the middle order for the team. He said that instead of adding a spinner to the team they wanted to get a batter. He added: 

“In addition to Aliss, we have three other frontline spinners in Rishad (Hossain), 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 Jaker Ali, who can bolster the middle or lower-middle order and serve as a finisher.” 

Jaker Ali Anik was impressive in the BPL 2024 for Comilla Victorians. He mustered 199 runs at an average of 99.5 and a strike rate of 141. He would want to continue his impressive run for the national team as well. 

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka squad for the T20I series 

Here’s Bangladesh squad for the T20I series 

Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Liton Das, Anamul Haque, Mohammad Naim, Towhid Hridoy, Soumya Sarkar, Mahedi Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad, Taijul Islam, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Jaker Ali Anik. 

Here’s the Sri Lanka squad for the T20I series against Bangladesh: 

Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Charith Asalanka (vc), Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Janith Perera, Dilshan Madushanka, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Akila Dananjaya, Binura Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay. 

The T20I series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will begin from 4th March. The second game will be played on 6th March followed by the last game on 9th March. All the games will be played in Sylhet.

Schedule for the T20I Series: 

1st T20I: 4 March

2nd T20I: 6 March

3rd T20I: 9 March,