Mushfiqur Rahim in doubt for Bangladesh's all format tour to Zimbabwe

Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim, who was last seen playing an international series against Sri Lanka, is now in doubt to tour Zimbabwe for the team’s all-format series. Apparently, Rahim suffered an injury while playing Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier League T20.

The injury is serious and Rahim has fractured the index finger which also ruled him out of the league. Apart from the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter, the 34-year-old is also one of the three senior players in the team. He always has valuable inputs and advice for his teammates.

Rahim was also their in-form batter as he scored a century in the ODI match against Sri Lanka. Surely this news is a bodily blow for the Bangladesh team and now have to prepare for the worst, if indeed he is ruled out of the Zimbabwe tour.

“Today we have taken a scan and found a hairline fracture in the index finger of his left hand,” BCB chief physician Debashish Chowdhury told Cricbuzz on Tuesday (June 22).

Apparently, the right-hand batter has been advised to rest for a week, before the doctors will review and tell if more time is needed to recover from the injury.

“We have advised him one week’s rest. Since it is a hairline fracture we are hoping that it won’t take time for him to recover. After one week we will review the injury and later take a decision in this regard.”

Tamim Iqbal and Taskin Ahmed ruled out of the DPL

Apart from Rahim, Taskin Ahmed and Tamim Iqbal too are ruled out of the DPL due to injury in the thumb and knee respectively. Opening batter Liton Das who suffered a wrist injury and missed the first games of the DPL is now back after fully requiring from the injury.

“There are four to five national cricketers with an injury concern but I think we have enough time for the players to recover, so I don’t see anyone being dropped from the side for an injury related caused in Zimbabwe,” added Debashish.

On the other hand, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) cricket operation chairman Akram Khan is confident of the tour going ahead as per the schedule. Apparently, the sporting activities in Zimbabwe came to a grinding halt due to the second wave of COVID-19. The national sports associations, clubs, and gyms were all shut. Zimbabwe women’s series against Pakistan too was called off due to the same.

“The tour is on as per schedule. I have spoken with our Zimbabwe counterparts and they have assured me that the series will be played as per the plan,” Khan said.