IND vs BAN: Why Bangladesh have picked Jaker Ali as 4th wicket-keeper batter option for 2-Test series?

Add as a preferred source on Google

IND vs BAN: Bangladesh on Thursday (September 12), announced their squad for two-match Test series against India. They made only one change to the team which travelled to Pakistan and registered a historic 2-0 win.

Injured pacer Shoriful Islam was replaced by wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali. After his inclusion, Bangladesh now have four wicketkeeper-batters in their squad.

Islam suffered a groin injury in Pakistan and missed the second Test in Rawalpindi. He isn't hundred percent fit, and selectors don't want to risk his injury keeping in mind the T20I series against India from October 6.

National selector Hannan Sarkar asserted that Shoriful's presence in the T20I squad was more important for the side. He also expressed confidence that the four other pacers in the team are capable of doing the job for the team.

Taskin Ahmed had replaced Shoriful Islam in the second Test, and he impressed by picking three wickets in the first innings and one in the second. Also, spinners are expected to play a bigger role in India, and therefore Bangladesh aren't worried despite the injury of their premier pacer.

Why Jaker Ali was picked in Bangladesh squad for Test series vs India

The addition of 26-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali increases the batting depth of Bangladesh. Bangladesh would need to bat deep against a world-class Indian bowling unit. The Indian spinners are expected to make life really difficult for the visitors.

Also, if the right-hander is included in the playing eleven, Litton Das would be able to focus completely on his batting. Mushfiqur Rahim is also a wicket-keeping option for Bangladesh, but the 37-year-old stayed away from the duty in both the matches in Pakistan, and contributed handsomely with the bat.

Zakir Hasan, another wicketkeeper-batter in the squad, played both Tests against Pakistan, and scored 15, 12*, 1 and 40. The southpaw opened in both the games.

Jaker Ali scored 172 off 286 balls in the 2nd unofficial Test against Pakistan A in Islamabad in August. Batting at number six, the southpaw smashed 17 fours and five sixes.

"Regarding Jaker Ali Anik, we considered both the conditions and the opposition. We had taken five pacers to Pakistan, but this time, we've reduced the number of pacers by one and added a middle-order specialist batter. Given the team combination, we felt it was necessary to strengthen the middle order, considering both the conditions and the opposition," Sarkar explained.

Bangladesh Squad for Test series vs India: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Kumer Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Jaker Ali Anik