Dhaka, 28 October (H.S.): Bangladesh’s veteran wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim has been ruled out of the first Test against the West Indies after sustaining an injury to his index finger during practice. The team remains hopeful that he will recover in time for the second Test, scheduled to begin in Sylhet on November 5.

Mushfiqur sustained the injury on Tuesday during a training session at the Bangladesh Cricket Board Academy when a delivery from a net bowler struck his index finger. The pain forced him to leave the session. The setback came just a day before the opening Test of the series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.

Although the initial assessment suggested that the injury was not serious, Mushfiqur continued to experience discomfort the following morning, particularly when trying to wear his wicketkeeping gloves. An X-ray revealed no fracture, but the medical team decided against risking his participation in the first Test.

Bangladesh team physiotherapist Bayjedul Islam Khan said the 38-year-old had suffered swelling and bruising to his finger. He explained that Mushfiqur had been monitored after sustaining the injury during practice but had not shown sufficient improvement by Wednesday morning.

“It is a soft-tissue injury. We are hopeful that he will recover over the next three days and be available for the next Test,” Khan said.

In Mushfiqur’s absence, Towhid Hridoy has been included in Bangladesh’s playing XI for the opening Test. Hridoy has limited experience in the longest format, having made his Test debut against Zimbabwe in Harare earlier this year.

Mushfiqur is one of the mainstays of Bangladesh’s Test batting line-up. Last year, he became the first Bangladeshi cricketer to play 100 Test matches. Across the six Tests he played following that milestone, he maintained a batting average of more than 40.

His most recent appearance was against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi earlier this month. He was dismissed without scoring in the first innings but responded with an impressive 81 in the second.

Mushfiqur has generally enjoyed a career relatively free from injuries. However, he missed a home Test against Sri Lanka for personal reasons. His previous absence due to injury came during Bangladesh’s tour of the West Indies in November 2024.

Meanwhile, in Dhaka, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bat first, with the hosts beginning the series without one of their most experienced players.

The two-Test series is also significant for Bangladesh’s campaign in the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship cycle. The team has six Tests remaining in its campaign and needs at least four victories and one draw to keep its hopes of reaching the final alive for the first time.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar