Bangladesh lose veteran campaigner to injury before Sri Lanka Tests
Bangladesh's Mushfiqur Rahim has been ruled out of the upcoming two Test series against Sri Lanka due to a thumb injury, with uncapped batter Towhid Hridoy receiving a call up.
Bangladesh received a huge blow ahead of the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, when 36-year-old Mushfiqur was ruled out.
The experienced player sustained a thumb injury during his side's win in the third ODI against Sri Lanka.
Mushfiqur had snared four catches behind the stumps before playing a supporting hand to Rishad Hossain's blazing knock.
The batter was unbeaten on 37 at better than run a ball when the game was sealed in the 41st over.
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Bangladesh physio Bayjedul Islam Khan confirmed that Mushfiqur will miss the two-Test series against Sri Lanka and is expected to be sidelined for up to four weeks.
"After the match, Mushfiqur underwent an X-ray examination in Dhaka, which revealed an avulsion fracture on the MIP joint of his right thumb. He is currently undergoing conservative management for his injury and is expected to be sidelined for around three to four weeks, consequently ruling him out of participation in the Test series against Sri Lanka," Bayjedul said.
Uncapped batter Tawhid Hridoy receives a call-up to Bangladesh's squad and could be in contention to earn a debut in the opening Test of the series that commences in Sylhet on Friday.
Mushfiqur has been an important part of the Bangladesh Test set-up with 5679 runs at an average of 38.09.
This average shoots up to 53.84 against Sri Lanka. He has scored three centuries and seven fifties against them.
Sri Lanka took the T20I leg of the tour 2-1 before the hosts fought back in the ODI series to win 2-1.
The two-game Test series is a part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2023-25.
Bangladesh squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Zakir Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Litton Das, Mominul Haque Showrab, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Mushfik Hasan, Nahid Rana, Tawhid Hridoy.
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