Riyad blow for injury-ridden Bangladesh
Sports Reporter
Injury-ridden Bangladesh got yet another blow when middle order batsman Mahmudullah Riyad, an important component of the teams batting line up, was ruled of the home series against India after he fractured his finger during practice yesterday.
An X-ray, performed immediately after the ball hit his index finger on the left hand while he practiced catching, revealed a fracture which according to the team management required three to four weeks to recover.
The results confirmed a fracture on his left index finger which was sustained during fielding practice today morning. Such injuries take around 3 to 4 weeks to heal. He will begin his rehab under the BCBs medical team in the next couple of days, BCBs senior physician Dr Debashis Chowdhury said.
His fractured finger was strapped when he left the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, to have his injury examined.
Riyads injury paved the way for Nasir Hossain to be included in the team but Bangladesh would be worried how the other players, would perform in the series against India just after recovering from the injury.
Four key players of the team have recently passed fit. Opener Tamim Iqbal recovered from his knee injury, Mushfiqur Rahim from finger, fast bowler Rubel Hossain from side strain and Shakib Al Hasan recovered from the shin bone injury.
Of the four players, Mushfiqur Rahims finger is still doubtful and it is most likely that he couldnt keep wicket and would play just as batsman.
On a day when Mahmudullah Riyads injury left Bangladesh in cornered situation, ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza gave the side yet another scare when he suffered a minor injury in a road accident on his way to the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium for training.
Given his injury track record, the accident left the cricket fraternity shivering down the spine but the team management confirmed later that nothing to be scared for the injury.
Mashrafe was injured in a road accident while coming to the ground this morning. These are minor injuries. He has suffered lacerations on his hands and his right knee has swollen slightly, team physio Bayjedul Islam Khan said.
He has been given medication and requires dressing on a regular basis. We expect him to recover in 7 to 10 days.
Mashrafe came straight to the stadium after the accident and received first-aid assistance at the BCBs medical room. He didnt take part in training and later went to a clinic near to his house where his bandages were changed. He however believed that he would return to the practice as soon as possible.
He explained: When I saw the bus approaching towards my rickshaw, I jumped out in anticipation.
The wheel of the rickshaw twisted and I tried to save my legs by diving out of the rickshaw. I am very lucky to have escaped with only some skin damage. My car was taking my child to the doctor for vaccination so I took the rickshaw to the ground. It is a 10-minute ride from my house.
Mashrafe has eight operations on his both knee which forced him always to be concerned about his knee.
The lanky fast bowler who continued skipping Test cricket in order to prolong his ODI and Twenty20 career, has enough time to recover before the three-match ODI series against India starts.
Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurasingha said that Mashrafe will be monitored closely while terming the incident as unfortunate.
This is unfortunate. We are concerned about his palm. But we will give him maximum chance to recover in time for the ODI series.
