Bangladesh’s veteran cricketer, Mushfiqur Rahim, has been forced to withdraw from the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka due to a fractured thumb sustained during the third ODI against the same opponent. The injury, confirmed by Bangladesh physio Bayjedul Islam Khan, will require a recovery period of at least three weeks.
The unfortunate incident occurred during the second over of the match when Mushfiqur was struck by a delivery from Taskin Ahmed, causing immediate pain and necessitating on-field medical attention. Despite the discomfort, Mushfiqur continued his wicketkeeping duties and even contributed significantly with an unbeaten 37 runs during Bangladesh’s chase of 236 runs.
Following the match, Mushfiqur underwent an X-ray examination in Dhaka, revealing an avulsion fracture on the MIP joint of his right thumb. As a result, he will undergo conservative management for his injury, sidelining him for approximately three to four weeks and ruling him out of the Test series against Sri Lanka.
Mushfiqur’s absence presents a significant setback to Bangladesh’s batting lineup, considering his prolific record in Test cricket, having played 88 matches and accumulated 5676 runs at an average of 38.09. His recent form in the ODI series further underscores his importance, finishing as Bangladesh’s second-highest run-scorer behind Najmul Hossain Shanto.
With Mushfiqur unavailable, Bangladesh selectors face a challenge in finding a suitable replacement with adequate red-ball experience. Options under consideration include Soumya Sarkar, Towhid Hridoy, Tanzid Hasan, Jaker Ali, and Anamul Haque, among others. Notably, 37-year-old Naeem Islam emerges as a potential candidate, displaying promising red-ball form in recent tournaments.
The first Test against Sri Lanka will take place in Sylhet, followed by the second Test in Chattogram commencing on March 30. Despite Sri Lanka’s victory in the T20I series, Bangladesh aims to bounce back after clinching the ODI leg by a margin of 2-1.
