Bangladesh were forced to reverse two decisions made before the second Test against India with Mehidy Hasan and Taijul Islam both returning to the XI as concussion substitutes after being dropped.
Mehidy Hasan came in as concussion substitute after wicketkeeper-batsman Liton Das was hit by a snorter from India pacer Mohammed Shami on the opening day of the day-night Test.
There was another change for Bangladesh with Nayeem Hasan being replaced by Taijul Islam as the concussion substitute rule was used twice in the same innings for the first time in Test cricket.
However, Mehidy, an off-spinner, will not be allowed to bowl as per the concussion substitute rule. Mehidy, though, did not last long as he was dismissed by pacer Ishant Sharma for just eight runs.
Das was retired hurt after being hit on his head at the stroke of lunch at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday.
Trying to play a pull short off a Shami bouncer, the heavily-lacquered pink ball blazed in and hit his helmet in the forehead region in the third ball of the 20th over. He was batting on 16 then.
The physio rushed in, conducted a test and he continued batting, responding with a boundary in the next delivery.
Das hit another boundary in the next over off Ishant and added nine runs before complaining of discomfort. He was next seen walking off the field after a long conversation with the umpire, forcing the end of the first session with the score reading 73/6.
Das’ like-for-like substitute Saif Hassan is down with an injury (split webbing), forcing the visitors to opt for Mehidy as concussion substitute.
Earlier in the second session, Nayeem (brought in for this Test match) was also hit on the helmet by Shami but he continued to bat on before being bowled by Ishant. When the Indian innings began, however, it was confirmed that Islam would replace Nayeem.
According to the protocol, a proper medical report has to be submitted to the match referee for a concussion substitute.
(With PTI inputs)
