Why Mushfiqur Rahim Is Missing Bangladeshs First Test Against West Indies

Bangladesh will take on West Indies in the first Test of the series without experienced national team batter Mushfiqur Rahim. The veteran cricketer has been ruled out due to an untimely physical setback just before the match.

Mushfiqur sustained an injury to a finger on his right hand while batting in practice on Tuesday, the day before the match. Although the injury did not initially appear to be particularly serious, his condition had not improved as expected by the morning of the match. As a result, the team management was forced to formulate its plans for the opening Test against the Caribbean side without the experienced batter.

Team physiotherapist Bayezid Hossain said Mushfiqur had been kept under constant observation as a precaution. In a video message explaining the current condition of the injury, he said, “Mushfiqur Rahim experienced pain in the index finger of his right hand during practice yesterday (Tuesday). He has been under observation since then. There has not been sufficient improvement as of this morning. It is a contusion injury. We hope he will recover within the next three days and be ready for the next Test.”

With Mushfiqur ruled out, young batter Towhid Hridoy has been given an opportunity to fill the vacant spot in the Bangladesh team. Hridoy made his debut in Test cricket against Zimbabwe last June and later demonstrated his capabilities by scoring a historic 350-run innings for the Bangladesh A team in South Africa in August.