Bangladesh’s preparations for their eagerly anticipated Test tour of Australia have suffered an early setback, with express pacer Nahid Rana locked in a race against time to recover from a side strain ahead of the two-match series next month.
The 23-year-old quick, regarded as one of Bangladesh’s brightest red-ball prospects, sustained the injury during the second T20I against Zimbabwe, just days after producing a career-best performance of 4 for 26 in the series opener. He has already been ruled out of Sunday’s series decider.
Rana’s outing in the second match was cut short after he suffered the injury midway through his spell, forcing him off the field after bowling only 2.3 overs. The speedster finished with figures of 1 for 15 and is expected to spend the next two to three weeks on the sidelines.
The Tigers are set to tour Australia for a Test series for the first time in 18 years, with the two matches forming part of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle.
Rana’s potential absence would come as a major blow for Bangladesh, who view the youngster as a vital weapon in Australian conditions. Standing well over six feet tall and capable of consistently clocking speeds in excess of 145 kmph, he has added a new dimension to Bangladesh’s bowling attack since bursting onto the international scene.
