Bangladesh fast bowler Nahid Rana has been ruled out of the third T20I against Zimbabwe with an injury that could threaten his place on the Test tour of Australia. The 23-year-old is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks.
The injury
Nahid was hurt in the second T20I after bowling only 2.3 overs and left the field with figures of 1 for 15. In the series opener he had taken a career-best T20I return of 4 for 26.
On Saturday a member of the national selection panel confirmed he would definitely miss the decider, while the selectors wait for scan results to learn the exact extent of the problem. The selector said a side strain usually needs at least two to three weeks to heal, and hoped for good news with some time left before the first Test against Australia.
He added that, given how Nahid is bowling at present, losing him for the Australia tour would be a major setback.
Race against time
The first Test is due to start in Darwin on August 13, with the second in Mackay from August 22. On Saturday, Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto met the selectors at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium to discuss preparations, and Nahid’s fitness was reportedly one of the main topics, underlining his growing value to the pace attack.
