In a major blow to Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan is not featuring in the XI for Bangladesh against India at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune today (October 19) due to injury.
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Bangladesh have been dealt with a major blow ahead of their all-important clash against hosts India. Shakib, their captain, who was under an injury cloud, has not made it in time to be available for the match. Najmul Hossain Shanto is leading Bangladesh in his absence.
Why is Shakib not playing today?
Shakib suffered an injury to his left quadricep during Bangladesh’s last match against New Zealand. He played the game through the pain and was subsequently taken for scans. The injury hasn’t healed in time for him be fit for the India game, forcing Shanto to take up the mantle of leading the side.
Shakib has been replaced by left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed. Nasum has an experience of just 12 ODIs and will have huge shoes to fill. India, meanwhile, have gone unchanged, sticking to the same XI that delivered the comprehensive victory over Pakistan in the last match in Ahmedabad.
There were talks that Mohammed Shami might make it into the XI in place of Shardul Thakur, who has not had much to do in the last two games. But India didn’t go ahead with the move, preferring to keep playing with the same combination that provides them batting depth.
Shanto won the toss and elected to bat first, while Rohit Sharma, India captain, said that he would have liked to bowl first had he won the toss.
India have fielded first in each of their three matches at the World Cup so far and have tasted immense success in the process. They would look to continue doing so today (October 19) in Pune, which has been one of the fastest scoring grounds in ODIs in India in the last few years.
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