Allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz has been ruled out of the first Test against Sri Lanka after he injured the small finger on his right hand during a Dhaka Premier League game. The selectors haven’t yet named a replacement, but Nayeem Hasan, who is the next in line, could be a like-for-like option.
Mehidy sustained the injury during the Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club-Prime Bank Cricket Club match when he dropped a catch in the deep. He immediately writhed in pain, and was taken off the field. However, moments later, the BCB announced the Test squad, which included Mehidy.
Chief selector Minhajul Abedin had said at the time that the offspinner will be okay but the extent of the damage was known much later after he underwent a scan in Dhaka.
Mushfiqur Rahim, too, picked up an injury during the same match, while turning out for Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, Mehidy’s team. Mushfiqur, though, recovered sufficiently to play the side’s next match in Mirpur on Tuesday.
Bangladesh are already without Taskin Ahmed, who hasn’t recovered from the shoulder injury he picked up in South Africa, for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. It caused a revamp in the pace attack and without Mehidy, the spin attack will also be depleted in potentially slow, low conditions.
The first Test begins on May 15 in Chattogram. Sri Lanka will arrive in Dhaka on May 8 and will play play a two-day practice match in BKSP on May 11 and 12.
Cricinfo
