Bangladesh players are seen at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport prior to their departure for India on Tuesday. — BCB photo
Bangladesh would seriously consider if it would allow every cricketer in franchise-based overseas T20 competitions in future after the latest injury setback of pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman, said a top cricket official on Tuesday.
Mustafiz returned with injury from Indian Premier League and was ruled out of three-match Twenty20 international series against Afghanistan, dealing Bangladesh with a serious blow.
‘We will seriously consider it,’ said BCB’s cricket operations chief Akram Khan regarding players’ participation in franchise-based overseas tournaments.
‘He returned with an injury in the past and Bangladesh cricket suffered for that. It’s the same problem now. We will raise the issue in the board meeting, which player we will permit and which player we will not. It has become a matter of concern for us.’
Mustafiz took the blow on his toe of the left leg when he tried to stop a powerful shot of Rishabh Pant during Mumbai Indians’ last IPL match against Delhi Daredevils at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi on May 20.
Despite the painful blow Mustafiz completed the over without any problem and finished the full spell.
Akram said Mustafiz informed the matter to BCB physicians after he returned from India and had been duly rested.
‘Initially, there was little pain but it increased gradually. A final check before travelling revealed that the problem was serious,’ he said.
The BCB earlier in a statement said tests have revealed a crack on his left big toe, which would sideline him for a few weeks.
‘An x-ray followed by a CT scan have confirmed a hairline fracture on the big toe. It takes around three to four weeks to recover from such injuries and therefore he (Mustafiz) can’t play against Afghanistan. We expect him to start rehab in two weeks after which we will continue to monitor and assess him,’ BCB’s senior physician Debashis Chowdhury said in the statement.
Akram said it was a serious blow for Tigers in the series.
‘He is an important player for us, especially in T20s. After he was ruled out our bowling strength got significantly reduced. We depend on him in one or two overs at the start of an innings and death over. It was huge blow for us at the eleventh hour,’ he said.
Bangladesh team left for India on Tuesday without Mustafiz and regular skipper Sakib al Hasan, who played all 17 matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL this season.
Afghanistan will host Bangladesh for the maiden Twenty20 international series between two teams in the Indian city of Dehradun from June 3 to 7.
Afghanistan are ranked eighth in Twenty20 internationals, two places ahead of Bangladesh.
The poor Twenty20 ranking of Bangladesh had prompted the selectors to name a full-strength squad for the series.
The BCB refrained from naming a replacement for Mustafiz until the team reached Dehradun.
‘We have discussed the name of several players today. But we decided to wait until the team reached Dehradun. We will wait for their feedback. If they see a seaming track we will take a pacer, possibly Abul Hasan,’ said chief selector Minhajul Abedin.
‘Otherwise, we may take a spinner. Depending on the wicket it maybe Sunzamul Islam or Nayeem Hasan,’ he said.
Source: New Age.
