In a recent development that deals a heavy blow to Bangladesh’s cricket team, seasoned wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim has been ruled out of the much-anticipated two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, which is set to commence on Friday, March 22. The cricket fraternity has been abuzz with the news of Rahim’s unforeseen absence, which comes at a critical juncture for the Bangladeshi side.
Mushfiqur Rahim sustained a serious injury to his right thumb during the third One-Day International (ODI) against Sri Lanka. While attempting to gather a delivery from the right-arm fast bowler Taskin Ahmed that unexpectedly veered away from the Sri Lankan batsman Pathum Nissanka in the game’s second over, Rahim was struck sharply on his thumb. Visibly in distress, Rahim’s pain was palpable to all in attendance. Despite the mishap, he persistently continued his wicketkeeping duties for the remainder of the match and even played a pivotal 37-not-out inning, leading his team to a series-clinching victory with a 2-1 margin.
Subsequent medical evaluations in Dhaka unveiled that Rahim had sustained an avulsion fracture at the MIP joint of his right thumb. Bayjedul Islam Khan, the Bangladesh team physio, has indicated that the injury mandates a conservative approach to management. As a result, Rahim would require approximately three to four weeks of recovery, which inadvertently rules him out from participating in the upcoming Test series against the visiting Sri Lankan team.
Bayjedul’s statement, as cited by ESPNcricinfo, notes, “Mushfiqur underwent an X-ray examination in Dhaka, which revealed an avulsion fracture on the MIP joint of his right thumb. He is currently undergoing conservative management for his injury and is expected to be sidelined for around three to four weeks, consequently ruling him out of participation in the Test series against Sri Lanka.”
The void left by Rahim’s absence can’t be overstated. With an impressive 88 Tests under his belt, the 36-year-old is a cornerstone of Bangladesh’s Test squad, boasting 5676 runs at an average of 38.09, including 10 centuries and 27 half-centuries. His extensive experience and proficiency behind the stumps will be sorely missed by a Bangladesh side that often relies on his red-ball expertise.
Despite Rahim’s setback, both squads for the forthcoming series have been announced. Sri Lanka has compiled a formidable team, captained by Dhananjaya de Silva, and including key players such as Kusal Mendis, Dimuth Karunaratne, and Angelo Mathews. Bangladesh, on the other hand, has shuffled its roster to accommodate the absence of Rahim, assembling a squad led by Najmul Hossain Shanto and featuring talent across the board, with Litton Kumer Das, Shadman Islam, and Mominul Haque among the names called upon to step up in Rahim’s stead.
Rahim’s injury is not only a setback for him personally but also puts pressure on the Bangladesh team to rejig their strategy for the series. Time will tell if the side can compensate for the loss of such a significant player as they face a strong Sri Lankan contingent. The cricketing community will certainly have its eyes trained on how Bangladesh adapts to this adversity and if they can maintain their competitiveness despite the considerable gap left by Mushfiqur Rahim’s unexpected exclusion.
