Bangladesh fast bowler Nahid Rana will travel to Australia for specialist treatment after injury ruled him out of the opening Test against Australia. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has opted for overseas medical care instead of continuing his rehabilitation at home.
Bangladesh have announced their squad for the first Test without Rana, Shariful Islam and Litton Das as injuries continue to disrupt preparations. Four fast bowlers and one batter have reportedly suffered fitness setbacks since the Zimbabwe tour.
Although Rana will not feature in the historic Test series, he will still fly to Australia on Tuesday night to consult a leading specialist. The remainder of his rehabilitation programme will depend on the doctor’s assessment.
Taskin Ahmed will travel on the same 11:55 pm flight from Dhaka. Unlike Rana, Taskin will join the Bangladesh squad, while Rana will focus entirely on his recovery.
The BCB recently said Rana would require around four weeks to recover from the injury before gradually increasing his bowling workload. The board added that another two to four weeks would be needed before he could return to full bowling intensity.
That means the paceman could need between six and eight weeks from the date of his injury before returning to competitive cricket.
Bangladesh hope the decision to seek specialist treatment in Australia will speed up Rana’s recovery, with the young quick viewed as a key part of the national team’s long-term pace attack.
