Injury concerns surround Tigers’ SL squad

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced the squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, slated to begin from May 15, and there were no big surprises in the squad though a few injury concerns reared their ugly heads following the squad announcement.

Pacer Taskin Ahmed's unavailability for the series was already known beforehand and as expected, Shoriful Islam, who had recovered from the ankle injury he incurred in South Africa, was named in the squad.

Shoriful, who may yet undergo surgery for a non-sports related injury abroad, played the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) match for his side Prime Bank against Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club yesterday. The left-arm paceman bowled 10 overs for 56 runs, bagging one wicket and will likely be able to play the second Test in Dhaka on May 23. However, the selectors have included him in the squad which was announced for the first Test so that the pacer can be available for the first Test in case he is fit.

BCB physio Dr. Debashish Chowdhury told The Daily Star yesterday that they have kept their options open regarding Shoriful and the pacer may go abroad before the series for consultation as there is no emergency for the surgery right away.

The biggest takeaways were the exclusions of opener Shadman Islam and seamer Abu Jayed Rahi while 23-year-old quick Rejaur Rahman Raja was included in the squad. Raja has so far bagged 11 wickets in eight matches for Prime Bank this DPL season, which includes a fifer against Brothers Union.

"Raja has improved in our HP training and in domestic games we have seen that he can bowl at a good pace. Due to the pace variation we have made a little change here. We have kept Shadman in the practice-match squad and are watching a few players in that position. We will call upon whoever is needed," chief selector Minhajul Abedin told reporters yesterday.

"Even in the last series, he was in the squad but he is not getting games. Since the series is on home soil, we have talked so that there is a different plan and that's why Rahi is not there," Minhajul said about Rahi.

Mushfiqur Rahim react after hurting themselves while fielding in the same Dhaka Premier League fixture at the BKSP yesterday. PHOTO: FIROZ AHMED

Meanwhile, both Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehedi Hasan Miraz suffered injury blows while fielding for Sheikh Jamal yesterday, with the latter taken to hospital following the injury.

"Mushfiqur has an ankle sprain and according to the physio there, he has a grade-one sprain. We will see him tomorrow but we heard it's a small sprain," Debashish informed The Daily Star.

"Miraz had a finger dislocation and it had to be relocated in the field. There could be fractures with dislocation. We asked him to undergo an X-ray and see us tomorrow morning. In case there is a fracture, it could take time to heal but we can't say until we see him."