WI vs BAN 2024: Mushfiqur Rahim to miss West Indies Test series

Bangladesh's senior wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim has been ruled out of the upcoming two-match Test series against the West Indies due to a fractured finger.

The 37-year-old suffered the injury while keeping wickets in the first ODI against Afghanistan in Sharjah, and will require 4-6 weeks to fully recover, making him unavailable for the Test leg of Bangladesh's tour of the West Indies.

Rahim is one of Bangladesh's most experienced and important batters, having scored 375 runs in six Tests in the West Indies at an average of 34.09. He has also had success in limited-overs cricket in the UAE, scoring 303 runs in six ODIs at an average of 50.50.

The veteran's absence will be a significant blow for Bangladesh as they prepare to take on the West Indies in the Test series, which begins on November 22nd. According to a report by Cricbuzz, a member of the Bangladesh national selection panel confirmed Mushfiqur's unavailability for the Test series. 

"He (Mushfiqur) is not playing the Test series against West Indies as it will take at least a month or more to recover," said the selector in the report. "As for the ODIs, we will have time in our hands to make a call on that after seeing his progress."

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He is under conservative management: Delowar Hossain

The injury occurred when Mushfiqur was keeping wickets during the first ODI against Afghanistan in Sharjah. He was subsequently ruled out of the remaining two ODIs of that series. The selectors are hopeful that Mushfiqur will be available for the ODI leg of Bangladesh's West Indies tour, which is scheduled to take place in early December. 

"Towards the end of Afghanistan's batting innings, Mushfiqur injured the tip of his left index finger while keeping wickets. An X-ray after the match confirmed a fracture on his left index near the DIP joint. He is under conservative management and is not available for the second and third ODIs. Further updates on his condition and expected recovery period will be provided in due course," team physio Delowar Hossain said.