Bangladesh’s T20 captain Liton Kumar Das missed the last two Asia Cup matches after suffering a rib injury and subsequently withdrew from the ongoing series against Afghanistan, returning home for treatment. Soumya Sarkar was called up to replace him in the T20 squad but will now not join the team due to visa complications.
A source from the Bangladesh Cricket Board confirmed to Dhaka Post that Soumya will no longer travel to the United Arab Emirates to participate in the series. As a result, he will miss the third and final T20 match scheduled for Sunday.
Following the T20 series, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will compete in a three-match ODI series, but Soumya is not included in the ODI squad.
Bangladesh’s Asia Cup campaign ended on 25 September, with the bilateral series against Afghanistan starting on 2 October in the UAE, where the Tigers are currently based. However, Soumya’s visa issues prevented him from joining the squad in the Middle East.
Bangladesh have already secured the T20 series after winning the first two matches. The final game offers captain Zakir Ali Onik and his team a chance to complete a whitewash against Afghanistan.
Soumya last played for Bangladesh in February during the ICC Champions Trophy, featuring against India. Despite this opportunity, he has not been selected for subsequent series. Now, after missing out due to Liton’s injury, visa problems have further hindered his international appearances.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Cricket Board announced a 16-member ODI squad on Saturday for the series beginning on 8 October. Notably absent is T20 opener Parvez Hossain Emon, who is not a regular in the ODI side. The squad, led by Mehedi Hasan Miraz, includes returning players Najmul Hossain Shanto, Naeem Sheikh, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana, and left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam.
