DHAKA: Bangladesh suffered a fresh injury blow ahead of next week’s One-day international series against New Zealand on Saturday, after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan had been ruled out with a finger fracture.
Shakib sustained the injury to his left ring finger while batting in the final of the sixth edition of Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 tournament on Friday evening, said the BCB.
“An X-ray following the match confirmed a fracture, and the finger will have to be immobilised for around three weeks,” said senior BCB physician Debashis Chowdhury.
This was the second injury blow for Bangladesh ahead of the visit, which featured three One-day Internationals and three Tests.
Pace bowler Taskin Ahmed was earlier ruled out for the entire series with a torn ligament and had been replaced by Shafiul Islam for the ODIs and uncapped Ebadot Hossain for Test series.
Several Bangladeshi cricketers have already left Dhaka for the three-match ODI series that starts in Napier on Feb 13.
Shakib missed much of the action in 2018 following an injury to his left little finger.
He was not fully fit until the home series against West Indies in November-December.
Meanwhile, New Zealand opener Martin Guptill is set to return from a back injury for the upcoming series against Bangladesh, selectors said in Wellington on Saturday.
Guptill was ruled out of the ongoing Twenty20 series against India after aggravating a disc in his lower back, but was named for the series against Bangladesh.
“We’re delighted to have Martin back on the park for this series. He’s a world-class player and an integral part of our one-day side,” selector Gavin Larsen said in a statement.
Guptill will undergo a fitness test on Sunday after which a final decision will be taken on whether he can partner Henry Nicholls at the top of New Zealand’s order.
“He and Henry did a good job opening up in Hamilton against India and they’re a combination we want to see some more of in this series,” Larsen added.
Mitchell Santner and Todd Astle are the specialist spinners in the squad, with Colin de Grandhomme and Jimmy Neesham taking the pace-bowling all-rounder spots.
Skipper Kane Williamson is to be rested for the final ODI with Colin Munro standing in as captain.
Bangladesh have not won any match against New Zealand in any format during their previous four visits.
New Zealand squad: Kane Williamson (captain), Todd Astle, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Ross Taylor, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee.
Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2019
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