Jaker Ali Replaces Injured Mominul in Dhaka Test

Bangladesh batter Mominul Haque was replaced by Jaker Ali as a concussion substitute after sustaining a head injury while fielding on the third day of the first Test against West Indies at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

The incident happened shortly after the lunch break, during the 78th over of West Indies’ first innings. Mominul was stationed at short leg when he attempted a close-in catch, and fell face-first onto the ground while wearing his helmet.

How the injury happened

Joshua Bishop defended an off-spin delivery from Mehidy Hasan Miraz with hard hands, sending the ball towards Mominul’s left. The Bangladesh fielder dived to complete the catch but lost control of the ball and fell heavily.

He was immediately taken off the field for medical assessment. Bangladesh team physiotherapist Bayjedul Islam Khan later confirmed that Mominul had suffered a head injury and was showing signs of concussion.

“As he has shown signs of concussion, he has been replaced by Jaker Ali Anik as the concussion substitute for the remainder of the match,” the team physio said in a statement.

A concussion substitute replaces a player who has suffered a head injury, and takes a full part in the rest of the match. In this case, the change mattered twice over: Bangladesh lost an experienced batter from the field, and then needed his replacement with the bat as well.

Jaker’s return after 16 months

Jaker subsequently joined Bangladesh’s batting line-up in the second innings after the hosts lost their third wicket. He was called to the crease shortly after captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was dismissed by Roston Chase, who claimed his third wicket of the innings.

Shanto had batted at Mominul’s usual No. 3 position. Jaker managed to get off the mark before rain interrupted play, forcing an early tea break.

The match marked Jaker’s return to Test cricket after a 16-month absence. His previous appearance in the format came against Sri Lanka in June 2025. A comeback in such circumstances, walking in during a difficult passage of play, is a hard way to return to the longest format.

Bangladesh in trouble at tea

Bangladesh faced a challenging situation at tea, having slipped to 34 for four in their second innings, with an overall lead of just 61 runs. Jaker therefore had a crucial responsibility to help the hosts strengthen their position in the contest.

The scoreboard showed how quickly the match had turned. A side that had fought through the first innings now needed its lower order and its substitute batter to build a lead worth defending.

Concussion substitutes often enter matches at the hardest moments, because the injury that creates the opening usually happens during a tense passage of play. Jaker’s task, after the rain break, will be to steady the innings alongside the remaining batters and push the lead beyond West Indies’ reach.

What happens next

Mominul will now follow the usual concussion protocols, with his return to play governed by medical clearance rather than by the match situation. Bangladesh’s medical staff will monitor him, and no decision about his next appearance will be made until those checks are complete.

For Jaker, the rest of the match is an opportunity. A substitute who scores runs in a difficult situation can change both the match and his own standing in the side. For Bangladesh, much will depend on whether the batting line-up can recover from 34 for four and set West Indies a target that gives their bowlers something to defend.