Bangladesh fast bowler Nahid Rana’s return has been thrown into fresh doubt after he complained of back pain during rehabilitation, forcing the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to arrange for medical tests ahead of the two-Test series against the West Indies starting October 28.
Rana was hoping to make a comeback during Bangladesh’s tri-nation ODI series in the United Arab Emirates with Afghanistan and Zimbabwe. His availability for the West Indies Tests is now up in the air, after the latest complaint scuppered those plans.
“We are looking into it but so far nothing serious has been found,” a BCB official told TIMES Sports on condition of anonymity.
“We are doing an investigation, and he went to hospital today (Sunday) as part of it. “We don’t have any serious concerns yet,” the official said.
Rana has been out of action since he suffered a grade-two side strain in Zimbabwe in July. He was ruled out of the Australia Test series, Asian Games and Bangladesh’s one-off Test against Afghanistan due to the injury.
First the pacer suffered a shin bone sprain, then a side strain while coming back. He had ramped up his bowling intensity over the past few weeks to get his workload back up but the back pain flared up a few days ago. The medical staff are reviewing his scans and the BCB are looking at getting a second opinion from a specialist overseas.
Chief selector Habibul Bashar Sumon said Rana could still play against West Indies but the board has not fixed a date for his return.
He is not completely out of the West Indies series. “We are going step by step and the plan was for him to play the tri-nation series but he will not be able to play there,” Bashar told reporters.
Scans are being done and he may be sent abroad if needed. “We are trying to get him back soon but a time frame can’t be given at this point,” he added.
Bangladesh will now have to wait for the medical assessment before deciding if Rana can make it back for the West Indies Tests.
