KARACHI: Bangladesh right-arm fast bowler Nahid Rana has been ruled out of the two-match Test series against Australia, international media reported on Saturday.
According to a report by an international cricket news website, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said the 23-year-old fast bowler will need around four weeks for the tissue to heal, followed by nearly a month’s layoff for the bowling workload to progress.
As a result, Rana will miss the series against Australia scheduled to be played in Darwin and Mackay from August 13 to 26.
“He is expected to require approximately four weeks for tissue healing, followed by another two to four weeks of improvement in bowling workload,” BCB said in the report.
The right-arm pacer has taken 44 wickets in international cricket this year – by any bowler – at an average of 18.31, including four five-wicket hauls, a major blow for Bangladesh in the absence of Nahit Rana.
Meanwhile, it adds to Bangladesh’s injury woes as another fast bowler Epadod Hossain has already pulled out of the Australia tour to give birth to his first child.
Left-arm fast bowler Shoriful Islam and experienced wicketkeeper-batsman Liton Das will also miss the series opener against Australia with hamstring and left leg injuries, while Mustafizur Rahman, who was previously absent from The Hundred, is expected to be available from mid-August.
It is pertinent to mention that the upcoming two-match Test series will be the first between Bangladesh and Australia after the Baggy Greens toured the South Asian nation for several red-ball matches in 2017.
The home series will mark Australia’s men’s cricket team’s long return to form after a 4-1 Ashes win at home against arch-rivals, while Bangladesh are coming off a Test loss against Zimbabwe last month.