Shakib ruled out of New Zealand ODIs

Bangladesh Test captain Shakib Al Hasan has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match one day international (ODI) series against New Zealand due to a finger injury that he sustained during the final of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) on Friday, reports UNB.

The star all-rounder led the Dynamites in the BPL final. The team lost to Comilla Victorians by 17 runs and failed to clinch the title for second time on the trot.

A source close to Shakib said he got injured on his left ring-finger while batting for the Dynamites.

The southpaw got the blow while facing a short delivery from Sri Lankan pace-bowler Thisara Perera. The ball struck on Shakib’s left ring-finger as he missed an attempted pull-shot.

He had a scan after the blow, and the scan suggested that he suffered a fracture.

Debashis Chowdhury, the chief physician of BCB, said, “An X-ray was done after the match which suggested that he had a fracture on the left ring-finger. It will take three weeks to heal.”

A group of eight Bangladeshi players have already reached New Zealand, and the another group will fly tonight (9 February). Shakib was one of them who were set to fly tonight along with ODI captain Mashrafe Mortaza, Tamim Iqbal, Rubel Hossain and Mohammad Saifuddin. But an abrupt injury ruled him out.

Bangladesh will play a three-match ODI series against New Zaland which will start from 13 February and they will lock horn against the same opponent in a three-match Test series as well. Shakib might return in Tests but the possibility is little.

Shakib was sidelined during most part of last year due to another injury on his finger that he had sustained during the final of tri-series in the home.

He was out of action during the Test and T20 series against Sri Lanka. He was also out of cricket during the first part of Nidahas trophy in the Island nation.

However, he played in West Indies managing his injury but failed to complete the Asia Cup in UAE. Shakib started playing regularly from the home series against West Indies later in the last year.