Bangladesh’s off-spinner Sohag Gazi is out of the forthcoming Test series in the ongoing tour of West Indies and will also not be available for the upcoming Asian Games, said the officials of the Bangladesh Cricket Board on Friday. It was learnt that left-arm spinner Elias Sunny is expected to replace him for the Test series in the Caribbean while all-rounder Sakib al Hasan will come in his place during the forthcoming Asian Games at Incheon, South Korea.
Sohag, who was in the 15-member Asian Games squad, had been reported with a suspected illegal bowling action during the second one-day international between Bangladesh and West Indies in Grenada on August 22.
Sohag is expected to return home on September 1 without participating in the following Test series in order to get his visa for Australia as International Cricket Council asked him to undergo bio-mechanical test within 21 days.
Selectors look set to strengthen the Tigers’ spin department by including Sunny in the 15-member squad for their two-match Test series against the West Indies starting in Kingston from September 5.
The second Test will be held at Gros Islet from September 13-17.
Sunny, who has played four Test matches so far since making an impressive debut against the West Indies with a seven-wicket haul, last played against Sri Lanka at Galle in 2013 before losing his national team place.
Sunny is expected to be a back-up for uncapped left-arm bowler Taizul Islam who is all set to make his Test debut in the series.
Sohag, who is expected to leave on September 18 for Australia to go through the required test in order to rectify his bowling action, looks certain to miss the Asian Games.
It opened the door for all-rounder Sakib to be a part of the Tigers’ gold defence in the Asian Games as the BCB recently lifted the six-month ban on him and asked him to stay away from cricket until September 15
Pace bowler Maashrafee bin Murtaza will lead the 15-
member squad, expected to depart on September 27 to participate in the Asian Games in Incheon, Korea.
Regular skipper Mushfiqur Rahim opted to stay back home to complete his wedding formalities.
-With New Age input
