Bangladesh call up Imrul Kayes to replace Tamim for Asia Cup

Dhaka, Feb 15 (Cricketnmore): Bangladesh have called up opening batsman Imrul Kayes for the Asia Cup T20 squad to fill in for Tamim Iqbal.

Tamim has opted out of the competition to be at his wife's side during the imminent birth of their first child, a news agency reported.

This is the only change in the squad announced earlier this month also for World T20.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced the Asia Cup squad on Sunday.

Tamim is currently in the United Arab Emirates ()UAE playing for Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Tamim will join his wife and other family members, already in Thailand, after his PSL stint.

BCB's chief selector Faruque Ahmed said on Sunday Tamim earlier had notified them about the leave.

Ahmed said playing in the PSL will constitute enough match practice for the left-handed opener before the World T20.

"He's playing very well in the PSL. Missing the Asia Cup won't make much of a difference."

Ahmed said they were also happy with Imrul Kayes' recent performance in all forms of cricket.

"His bad luck is that we couldn't keep him in the World T20 squad, but I hope he'll make the best of this opportunity in the Asia Cup."

Imrul had a successful run for Comilla Victorians in the last Bangladesh Premier League. He was the key to the Victorians becoming champions with the second-highest runs, 312, in the tournament.

The Asia Cup begins on February 24 with Bangladesh taking on India at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka's Mirpur.

The Asia Cup squad:

Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Shakib Al Hasan, Imrul Kayes, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Nurul Hasan, Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Hider, Al-Amin Hossain, Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny.