Bangladesh have suffered another setback on a difficult tour of Zimbabwe, with experienced left arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman ruled out for the remainder of the trip due to a hamstring injury.
Mustafizur missed the second ODI on 10 July after sustaining discomfort in his right hamstring while bowling six overs in the opening match. A scan conducted on 7 July confirmed a Grade 1 muscle tear, alongside a minor issue in the same knee, bringing his tour to a premature end.
Team physiotherapist Bayezidul Islam confirmed the diagnosis in a video message released by the Bangladesh Cricket Board. “Mustafizur Rahman reported discomfort in his right hamstring during the first ODI. Subsequent scans revealed a Grade 1 muscle tear in the right hamstring. He is also dealing with a minor issue in the same knee. We expect his recovery to take around four weeks, after which he will continue his rehabilitation in Bangladesh,” he said.
The setback has significant implications beyond the tour itself. A four week recovery period is likely to rule Mustafizur out of the opening stages of The Hundred, which begins on 21 July, denying him the chance to become the first Bangladeshi cricketer to feature in England’s 100 ball competition. He had been named in both Bangladesh’s ODI and T20I squads for the tour, though the BCB has not yet confirmed a replacement.
His absence is a particular blow given the role he had been expected to play in Bangladesh’s T20 bowling attack for the upcoming series. The Bangladesh Cricket Board did not immediately confirm a replacement.
The injury adds to what has already been a chastening tour for Bangladesh, who lost the one off Test by an innings before dropping the first two ODIs to concede the series with a match to spare. The third and final ODI will be played on 12 July, with the tourists now aiming to avoid a whitewash before the two sides meet again in a three match T20I series.
Wicketkeeper batter Litton Das was also ruled out of the ODI series through injury earlier in the tour, though he had not been included in the T20I squad.
