Bangladesh suffered a massive blow on the opening day of the Asia Cup 2023 as wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das got ruled out of the entire tournament.

Litton was unable to recover from a viral fever, which ruled him out of the continental event. He did not travel to Sri Lanka for Bangladesh's opening fixture in Pallekele.

"The National Selection Panel of BCB has named 30-year-old fellow right-hander Anamul Haque Bijoy as Litton’s replacement," the Bangladesh Cricket Board said in an official statement.

Anamul Haque has represented Bangladesh in 44 ODIs so far, scoring 1254 runs with three hundreds. His last appearance in the 50-over format was in December last year against India. He is set to join the Bangladesh team in Sri Lanka later on Wednesday (August 30).

“He (Anamul) has been among the runs in domestic cricket and we have continued to monitor him in the Bangladesh Tigers programme. He was always in our consideration," Minhajul Abedin, the Chairman of the National Selection Panel, said.

“Due to Litton’s unavailability, we needed a top-order batter who could keep wicket and Anamul got the nod,” the BCB stated.

Bangladesh will open their Asia Cup 2023 campaign against defending champions Sri Lanka on Thursday (August 31) in Pallekele.

Bangladesh Asia Cup Squad: Shakib Al Hasan (Captain), Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Naim Sheikh, Shamim Hossain, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Anamul Haque Bijoy.