The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has been forced to make changes to its squads for the remainder of the Zimbabwe tour after premier left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman sustained an injury during the opening One Day International. Bangladesh have already lost the three-match ODI series after suffering defeats in the first two games and will now head into the final ODI and the subsequent T20I series without one of their most experienced fast bowlers.
With Mustafizur ruled out, the selectors have named replacements for both the ODI and T20I squads as Bangladesh look to finish the tour on a positive note before shifting focus to the shortest format.
Bangladesh announce replacement for ODI and T20I squads
The BCB confirmed that Mustafizur has been ruled out of the remainder of the Zimbabwe tour after scans revealed a grade-one tear in his right hamstring. The left-arm pacer suffered the injury during the opening ODI and will now return to Bangladesh to continue his rehabilitation. According to the team management, he is expected to require around four weeks to recover. For the third and final ODI against Zimbabwe in Harare, Bangladesh have named all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin as Mustafizur’s replacement.
The board has also made a change to the T20I squad, with fast bowler Taskin Ahmed replacing Mustafizur for the upcoming three-match series. Taskin and Litton Das had earlier been granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to participate in the Lanka Premier League from the beginning of the tournament. However, following Mustafizur’s injury, the BCB revised its plans and recalled Taskin for the Zimbabwe T20Is before he joins his LPL franchise.
Bangladesh look to avoid ODI whitewash
Bangladesh head into the final ODI under pressure after conceding the series with consecutive defeats in Harare. Zimbabwe sealed the series by taking an unassailable 2-0 lead, leaving the visitors searching for a consolation victory before attention turns to the T20Is.
The absence of Mustafizur is a significant setback given his experience and ability to deliver in white-ball cricket. His injury has also cast doubt over his participation in this year’s The Hundred, with the recovery period expected to keep him out of action for around a month.
Despite the setback, Bangladesh will hope that the inclusion of Saifuddin strengthens their balance in the final ODI, while Taskin’s return provides a timely boost to the pace attack for the T20I series. The visitors will now aim to end the ODI leg of the tour on a winning note before beginning a fresh challenge in the three-match T20I contest against Zimbabwe.
