Asia Cup 2022: BIG setback for Bangladesh as THESE 2 key players ruled out of tournament

Ahead the Asia Cup 2022, Bangladesh cricket team have got two key players injured from their squad, fast bowler Hasan Mahmud and wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan Sohan have been sidelined for the marquee tournament set to begin on August 27 in the UAE. While Bangladesh have finished runners-up thrice -- in 2012, 2016 and 2018 -- they have never won the continental trophy.

Hasan is set to be unavailable for up to a month after he hurt his ankle during training last week, while Nurul recently underwent surgery on an injured finger and needs time to rest the affected area. (Asia Cup 2022 Squads: Full players list of all teams including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and more, check HERE)

Left-handed batter Mohammad Naim earns a reprieve after solid form for Bangladesh A during their recent tour of the West Indies and has been named as a replacement, with the 17-player squad to depart Dhaka for Dubai on Tuesday.(Asia Cup 2022: India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh squads with fixtures schedule, Livestream details HERE)

Shakib Al Hasan will lead Bangladesh at the Asia Cup after he was re-instated as T20I captain earlier this month, but the star all-rounder has kept expectations low for his side at the six-team tournament.

https://t.co/loYjOa73az — Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) August 13, 2022

"I have no goals," Shakib was quoted as saying by ICC recently when asked about how his team will perform at the Asia Cup. My only aim is that we can do well in the (T20) World Cup and these are the preparations for it.

"If someone thinks that I can change things within one or two days or someone else will come to change it, then we are living in a fool's kingdom. If you are able to think practically, our true development will be seen when the team really does well in the World Cup in three months' time."

Former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson believes Bangladesh made the right decision by bringing in Shakib as captain once more and thinks the Asian country can thrive with the 35-year-old at the helm.

"To have a leader of Shakib's quality, I think it`s going to re-energise them," Watson said on The ICC Review. "He's so experienced. He has captained Bangladesh a lot of times. He has captained in a lot of franchise tournaments as well, especially in the Bangladesh Premier League."

Bangladesh Asia Cup squad: Shakib Al Hasan (c), Anamul Haque Bijoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Musaddek Hossain Saikat, Mahmud Ullah, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Shaif Uddin, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed, Shabbir Rahaman, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Parvez Hossain Emon, Mohammad Naim. (With IANS inputs)