Mominul Haque will take no further part in the first Test against West Indies after showing signs of concussion, and Jaker Ali Anik has come into the match as his replacement, the Bangladesh Cricket Board confirmed on Friday.
The timing could hardly be worse. Bangladesh were 79 for 6 in their second innings when bad light ended day three in Mirpur, a lead of just 106 with two days left.
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Key points
- Mominul Haque is out of the Mirpur Test with concussion and Jaker Ali Anik replaces him
- Bangladesh closed day three on 79 for 6, a lead of 106 over West Indies
- Bad light has ended every day of the Test early so far
How Mominul was hurt at short leg
The injury came in the 78th over of West Indies’ first innings, shortly before lunch. Joshua Bishop pushed at an off-break from Mehidy Hasan Miraz, the ball flew to short leg, and Mominul got his hands to it but could not hold on. He fell face-first and was helped off the field.
Team physio Bayjedul Islam Khan said Mominul “had suffered a head injury while fielding in the 78th over” and would be replaced by Jaker “as the concussion sub for the remainder of the match”.
Jaker was not in the original XI. His last Test was against Sri Lanka in June 2025, so he returns after 16 months, and in about the hardest situation a recalled batter could face.
A collapse that left Jaker walking into a crisis
Mominul’s absence showed as soon as Bangladesh batted again. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto moved up to No. 3 and the top order fell away. Shamar Joseph had Tanzid Hasan caught at gully for a duck, and Roston Chase removed Shadman Islam (13), Towhid Hridoy (0) and Shanto (10). At tea it was 34 for 4.
Jomel Warrican then took out Litton Das for 4 and Mehidy for 9, leaving Bangladesh 60 for 6. Jaker and Nayeem Hasan, both unbeaten on 18, saw it through to the close.
Nayeem’s milestone keeps Bangladesh in the game
It would be far worse without Nayeem’s morning. The off-spinner took 4 for 33 in 10.5 overs as West Indies were bowled out for 245, 27 short of Bangladesh’s 272, and became the fastest Bangladesh spinner to 50 Test wickets, in his 16th Test, The Daily Star reported.
Shadman’s 105 on day two, his third Test hundred, is still the biggest score of the match. Nobody has come close to it since.
Bad light has made the draw a real factor
Every day of this Test has ended early. Bad light closed day one with Bangladesh on 213 for 3, rain and bad light cut short day two, and the light went again on Friday. If that pattern holds, West Indies may have less time than the scorecard suggests to bowl Bangladesh out and chase.
West Indies are still in front. The spinners on both sides have done most of the damage, so every run Jaker, Nayeem and the tail add makes a fourth-innings chase harder on this surface. For the wider picture, see why Bangladesh are dangerous underdogs at home.
What happens next
Day four starts on Saturday, with the Test scheduled to finish on Sunday 1 November. The second Test is in Sylhet from 5 November, and Mushfiqur Rahim, who missed this match after hurting his right index finger in practice, is expected to be fit for it. Mominul’s availability will depend on how he comes through the concussion protocols.
Market watch
- Time lost to bad light makes the draw more relevant than the match position alone suggests.
- The first hour of day four, with a lead of 106 and four wickets left, is the key session.
- Jaker is the last recognised batter left, so the lower order has to hang around with him.
- Watch for a Mominul update before the Sylhet squad is confirmed.
For more, see our guide to cricket grounds and pitch conditions, the latest cricket predictions and upcoming fixtures in our match centre.
Top image: Photo: Xkalponik / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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Macaela Becker
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