As a replacement for Al Amin before Debut , Zakir Ali Anik received a call-up to the Bangladesh T20 squad. He joined the Bangladesh squad for the T20 series against Sri Lanka as they played three matches on home ground. Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu, the head of the new selection committee of the Bangladesh team, stated, ‘We believe that by including someone like Zakir instead of Al Amin, the team’s balance will be further enhanced. He can also play a role as a finisher besides strengthening the middle and lower-middle order.’
Al Amin, nursing a finger injury, is sidelined from the start of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The national team’s physio, Bayezidul Islam Khan, mentioned that it will take two to three weeks for Al Amin to recover.
Having just finished the BPL as part of the same team, the 26-year-old Zakir is impressing with his aggressive batting. He took on the responsibility of quick runs towards the end of the innings, scoring 199 runs at an average of 99.50 and a strike rate of 141.13, including 10 fours and 14 sixes. Before Zakir, he played three T20 matches for Bangladesh in their jersey. However, those were during the Asian Games in October last year, where regular national team cricketers were absent.
The upcoming T20 series matches between the two teams will be held on March 4th, 6th, and 9th at the Sylhet International Stadium.
T20 Squad:
– Nazmul Hossain Shanto (Captain)
– Liton Das
– Anamul Haque Bijoy
– Naeem Sheikh
– Towhid Hridoy
– Soumya Sarkar
– Zakir Ali Anik
– Sheikh Mehedi Hasan
– Mahmudullah
– Taijul Islam
– Rishad Hossain
– Taskin Ahmed
– Mustafizur Rahman
– Shariful Islam
– Tanjim Hasan Sakib.
