Bangladesh batter Jaker Ali, who made his debut against South Africa in the first match of the ongoing series, has been ruled out of the second and final Test. The 26-year-old played an important role in Bangladesh’s performance, scoring 58 runs in the second innings of the opening Test. His absence is a significant setback for the team.
Physio’s update on Jaker Ali’s exclusion
Bangladesh’s team physio, Bayjedul Islam Khan, confirmed the reason for Jaker’s unavailability.
Bayjedul reported that Jaker suffered a concussion during the batting practice session on Sunday. “Jaker Ali suffered a concussion while batting in practice yesterday [Sunday],” Bayjedul was quoted as saying to ESPNcricinfo.
Bayjedul also mentioned that Jaker, who has a history of concussions and is still experiencing symptoms, may face a longer recovery. Due to these clinical findings, he has been ruled out of the second Test.
“He has a history of concussions and is still showing symptoms. Given his previous concussion record, recovery may take some time. Based on the clinical findings, he has been ruled out of the second Test,” Bayjedul added.
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New face in the Bangladesh squad
In response to Jaker’s exclusion, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced wicket-keeper batter Mahidul Islam Ankon as his replacement. The 25-year-old made his international debut in the second Test against South Africa. Ankon’s inclusion has added a fresh energy to the lineup, and is expected to bring a solid presence to the lower-middle order, along with his wicket-keeping skills.
Jaker’s absence compounds the challenges for Bangladesh, who are facing the Proteas in a must-win encounter after a seven-wicket defeat in the series opener. Though a series win is no longer possible, a victory in the second Test would allow Bangladesh to level the series, which would provide a morale boost for the team in an otherwise difficult campaign.