Why Bangladesh chose Aliss as their Asian Games surprise!

Bangladesh did not simply replace an injured pace-bowling all-rounder with another player when Mohammad Saifuddin was ruled out of the Asian Games. They saw an opportunity to add an element of surprise to their attack.

Off-spinner Aliss Al Islam has been brought into the squad in place of Saifuddin, with Bangladesh's selectors believing the conditions in Japan could make an additional spinner more useful than another pace option.

The decision was influenced by what the selectors saw from the women's matches at the Asian Games. The pitches appeared slow and offered limited assistance to fast bowlers, prompting Bangladesh to reconsider their initial replacement plan.

Chief selector Habibul Bashar said they had first considered pacer Ripon Mondol. But the conditions changed the thinking.

"We thought about Ripon Mondol as Saifuddin's replacement, but after watching the women's matches, it seemed there would be little help for the pacers," Bashar said.

Bangladesh already have three specialist spinners in their squad - Nasum Ahmed, Sheikh Mehedi Hasan and Rishad Hossain. Yet the selectors felt Aliss could offer something different.

The 29-year-old remains uncapped at international level, but his mystery-spin variations have earned him a reputation in domestic cricket. He made headlines with a hat-trick on his BPL debut in 2019 and has taken 59 wickets in 58 T20 matches.

His recent performances also strengthened his case. Aliss took three wickets for Bangladesh A against South Africa A in their unofficial ODI in Potchefstroom earlier this month, producing a spell that caught the attention of the selectors.

Bashar said Aliss had also made progress in fitness and fielding, areas the selectors had asked him to work on before the South Africa tour.

The gamble, however, is clear. Bangladesh are taking a bowler who has yet to play international cricket and placing him in a tournament where they hope to challenge for gold.

That uncertainty is also what makes him potentially useful.

Bangladesh do not know yet whether Aliss will play, but if they need an unexpected option against an opponent unfamiliar with his variations, the selectors believe he could provide exactly that.

For Aliss, the Asian Games could therefore become more than a late call-up. It could finally be the international opportunity that has repeatedly slipped away because of injuries and selection setbacks.