Bangladesh had a forgettable start to the historic day-night Test match against India at the Eden Gardens that started on Friday. After winning the toss, the visiting skipper, Moaminul Haque decided to bat first but the visiting side’s batters had no answer to India’s pace trio that picked all the 10 wickets.
Bangladesh was all out for a paltry 106 in 30 overs and half and India were in the driver’s seat by posting 174 for 3 at stumps. Bangladesh had to find replacements for two concussed players. The worse part for Bangladesh was that Bangladesh had to call two concussion substitutes on the first day after two of their first XI players — Liton Das and Nayeem Hasan were hit in the helmet while batting.
Bowler Mehidy Hasan was the substitute for Das, the wicket-keeper while fellow spinner Taijul Islam was in for Hasan. However, Taijul bowled eight overs when India batted conceding 23 runs, Hasan was not allowed to ball in the Test.
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Bangladesh sent Hasan as the concussion substitute for Das (24) who was hit by a bouncer from Mohammed Shami after putting up a brief partnership with opener Shadman Islam (29). Mehidy, a right-arm off-break bowler who has 90 wickets in 21 Tests, scored only eight runs before falling to Ishant Sharma.
Hasan was not allowed to ball since under the ICC Playing Conditions, a concussion substitute has to be a like-for-like replacement and perform the same role as that of the injured player he replaced.
As per Article 12.8.1, the ICC match referee, in assessing whether the replacement player should be considered a like-for-like player, should consider the likely role the concussed player would have played during the match. Das was preferred as the wicket-keeper for Bangladesh as the veteran Mushfiqur Rahim had stepped down from that role in Test cricket and hence Hasan was not allowed to bowl in the game.
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Das suffered a blow when he failed to connect a bouncer while attempting a pull against Shami. The team physio rushed to the ground to carry out the compulsory concussion test failing which, the batsman had to be taken to hospital for scans. Ishant ended up with a five-wicket haul in the innings while Umesh Yadav took three and Shami claimed two scalps.
