Head Injury Makes Mominul a Concussion Substitute, and ICC Rules Leave Him Doubtful for the Second Test Too

Bangladesh batter Mominul Haque could not bat in the second innings of the Dhaka Test against the West Indies after taking a blow to the head. Jaker Ali Anik came in to bat as his concussion substitute. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed Mominul's injury in a statement.

National team physio Bayejidul Islam Khan said Mominul was hit on the head while fielding in the 78th over of the West Indies' first innings. He later showed signs of concussion, and Jaker Ali Anik was taken as his concussion substitute for the rest of the match.

Under ICC rules, when a concussion substitute is taken, the player who suffered the head injury cannot play for the next seven days. That has created uncertainty over Mominul's availability for the second Test as well.

The injury blows do not end there. Experienced batter Mushfiqur Rahim had already been ruled out of the Dhaka Test through injury, and another batter, Litton Das, is playing with an injury. Altogether, injuries to key players have put Bangladesh under pressure.

Bangladesh are not comfortable on the field either. The hosts made 272 in their first innings, then bowled the West Indies out for 245 to take a 27-run lead.

But batting in the second innings, Bangladesh collapsed early, losing six batters for just 56 runs.

Tanzid Hasan Tamim flicked a full-length delivery on leg stump from Shamar Joseph into the hands of the fielder at gully. The opener, who made 7 in the previous innings, returned for a duck this time, and Bangladesh lost their first wicket with the team score on 1.

A partnership between Najmul Hossain Shanto and Sadman Islam then took the lead past 50. But in the 11th over, Sadman and Towhid Hridoy fell within three balls of each other. Sadman, who scored a century in the previous innings, was bowled by Justin Greaves Chase for 13 off 30 balls. Hridoy fell on the very next ball; after making 42 in the first innings, he returned for a duck this time.

After a one-over gap, Chase struck again. Shanto failed to get his bat in line while defending, umpire Sam Nogajski raised his finger to the Caribbean appeal, and a review could not save the Bangladesh captain, who returned for 10 off 37 balls. The injury blow on one side and the batting collapse on the other have left Bangladesh in a difficult position in the Dhaka Test.