Bangladesh's Liton Das out of Asia Cup due to viral fever

NEW DELHI: Bangladesh's preparations for the Asia Cup took a hit on Wednesday as batsman Liton Das was ruled out of the tournament due to viral fever. The Bangladesh Cricket Board announced that Liton was unable to travel and subsequently named Anamul Haque as his replacement.
Anamul Haque, who last represented Bangladesh in an ODI against India in December, was chosen to step in.He was scheduled to join the team later on Wednesday ahead of their opening match against co-hosts Sri Lanka in Kandy on Thursday.
The 30-year-old right-handed batsman played 44 one-day internationals and has scored 1,254 runs, including three centuries.

Minhajul Abedin, the chairman of the national selection panel, remarked on Anamul's inclusion, stating, "(Anamul) has been in the runs in domestic cricket. Due to Liton's unavailability, we needed a top-order batter who could keep wicket, and Anamul got the nod."
The Asia Cup holds significance as it serves as a final opportunity for teams from the region to assess each other's strengths and strategies ahead of the World Cup scheduled to take place in India starting in October.

The Asia Cup, co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka, features a hybrid model adopted after India declined to tour Pakistan. The tournament will culminate with the final on September 17 in Colombo. Bangladesh finds itself in Group B alongside Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, while in Group A, Pakistan will kick off the proceedings against Nepal in Multan. A highly anticipated clash between Pakistan and India is scheduled for Saturday in Kandy.
(With inputs from AFP)