Mustafiz hides injury!
The pacer ruled out for 4 weeks, an investigation to be carried out
Sports Reporter
Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was ruled out of the Afghanistan series because of a fracture on the big toe of his left foot, an injury that also sidelined him for three to four weeks.
Mustafizur is believed to pick up the injury when playing for Mumbai Indians in an IPL match against Delhi Daredevils on May 20, as he attempted to stop a ball off his own bowling with his foot. A BCB official said that Mustafizur was given two weeks rest before he can start his rehabilitation.
A fracture has been found on the big toe of his left foot. Upon inspection by our medical team, they let us know that he will have to stay away from action for three to four weeks. He will have to undergo two weeks of complete rest after which he can start his rehabiliation, said Rabeed Imam, BCBs senior manager, media and communications.
Mustafizur joined the Bangladesh training camp on Saturday and even bowled in a match scenario training but didnt complain of pain at that moment. On Monday night, just few hours before the teams departure for India, he complained of pain and subsequent tests revealed a crack on his big toe.
A BCB media release today quoted Dr Debashish Chowdhury as saying: 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) cant play against Afghanistan. We expect him to start rehab in two weeks after which we will continue to monitor and assess him.
While he it was told Mustafizur picked up the injury in IPL, a BCB insider said his franchise Mumbai Indians physio didnt point out any injury of Mustafizur in the report which was given to Bangladesh after the completion of Mumbais journey in IPL.
Usually the physio of IPL franchisees prepared report for every player, stating the update of injury and how to manage the injury and sent it to the country from which they picked up the players for their team.
Since the Mumbai physio didnt give any injury update of Mustafizur, it appeared that the pace bowler hid his injury and even didnt care to let the team management know about his condition.
Just few hours before the team left the country, Mustafizur suddenly informed the BCB medical team that he suffered pain on his left foot and simply couldnt walk. Then an X-ray was done at around 11pm on Monday night after which a crack on his big toe was revealed.
Sources said, BCB understood Mustafizur played the match scenario practice game at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Saturday through the pain and only aggravated the injury.
Cricket Operations chairman Akram Khan however said he would talk to Mustafizur and would investigate whether he hid the injury or he didnt know about it.
I will talk to Mustafizur personally and would try to know what happened actually. This is not expected from a national player, upon whom we are relying heavily, Akram said.
It is understood, BCB took this as unprofessional behaviour from a national player and could impose any financial penalty if Mustafizur is found guilty. BCB did not name Mustafizurs replacement in the squad for the T20I series against Afghanistan till filing of this report. But it is believed pace-bowling all-rounder Abul Hasan Raju could get a nod.
