Bangladesh were forced into soliciting two concussion replacements on the opening day of the Kolkata Test after Liton Das and Nayeem Hasan were struck on the helmet by Mohammed Shami bouncers, Cricbuzz reports.
It marked the first time a team has had to make two replacements since the ICC allowed concussion replacements in all international matches from August 1, 2019. Mehidy Hasan and Taijul Islam are the two replacement players who'll play the remainder of the pink-ball Test.
Liton was hit on the helmet in the 21st over of the innings. After a brief consultation from the physio, he continued batting and even hit two boundaries thereafter before feeling the effects of the blow in the next over and walking off. Incidentally, Liton was replaced by off-spinner Mehidy Hasan, who'll not be allowed to bowl as per the ICC's Playing Conditions which mandates only like-for-like replacements.
Bangladesh lost another of their starters two overs later when Nayeem wore a Shami bumper on his helmet. India's team physio, Nitin Patel
was amongst the first to check on Nayeem, who after a round of checks, even offered a thumbs up and a smile. Nayeem went on to score four boundaries enroute his knock of 19 but didn't step out to field at the end of Bangladesh's innings. The team management confirmed his replacement with left-arm spinner Taijul Islam.
Incidentally, Naeem was struck on the helmet while batting in the nets two days out from the game and had to be called back. He was selected to play on Friday after precautionary CT scans gave the management a go-ahead. Curiously, Bangladesh had two extra batsmen in their travelling squad - none of who could be used to replace Liton. Saif was ruled out on November 20 with a split webbing, two days before the second Test. Mosaddek Hossain, on the other hand, left the squad before the first Test to tend to an ailing relative. BCB named no replacements to these players.
