Bangladesh are wary of the injury to several key players as the second Test against New Zealand approaches fast.
While Shakib Al Hasan has already been ruled out of the second Test in Wellington, starting on March 8, team’s dependable batsman Mushfiqur Rahim is yet to recover fully from the injury.
Mushfiqur is suffering from a wrist injury, as well as a flare-up of a rib problem, which kept him out of the Hamilton Test in which Bangladesh lost by an innings and 52 runs margin. There was niggle of Tamim Iqbal also who struck 126 and 74 in the two innings of the first Test.
The injury and niggles of the players went to such extent that Bangladesh hardly felt any comfort ahead of the second Test, a do or die match for them considering the defeat in the match would give them a bitter test of series defeat.
Soumya Sarkar though was called up as the back-up of Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh team management didn’t fill Mushfiqur’s place with any additional player, thinking that the dependable middle order batsman would get fit ahead of the second Test.
Mushfiqur is yet to feel comfort as there is still a little bit of sourness in the ligament area, which made him extremely doubtful for the second Test, said Bangladesh head coach Steve Rhodes.
But he said that they won’t give up hopes on Mushfiqur until the start of the second Test at Basin Reserve in Wellington.
“Mushy (Mushfiqur) is trying his best to be fit as quick as possible for the Test matches,” Rhodes said on Wednesday in Wellington.
