Nahid Rana faces race against time for West Indies Tests
The Bangladesh pacer will undergo an assessment on October 11 after suffering a setback during rehabilitation, with the BCB considering a opinion abroad
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will assess Nahid Rana's condition on October 11 before deciding on the fast bowler's availability for the upcoming home Test series against West Indies, with his participation in the two-match series in doubt.
West Indies are scheduled to tour Bangladesh for two Tests in October-November, with the series forming part of the ICC World Test Championship.
Rana, who had been working towards a comeback after being sidelined by a grade-two side strain sustained during Bangladesh's tour of Zimbabwe earlier this year, has suffered another setback. The injury had forced him to miss the tour of Australia, the Asian Games and the ongoing Test series against Afghanistan. During his rehabilitation, the pacer suffered a fresh injury to his glute region, ruling him out of the upcoming tri-series in the UAE involving Afghanistan and Zimbabwe.
“Rana will have an assessment tomorrow (October 11), and only then will we get a clear picture of his injury status,” a member of the selection panel confirmed to Cricbuzz on Saturday.
“We are hoping he will be available for the West Indies, but whether he can make it for both Tests or only one remains to be seen, as it will depend on his fitness clearance,” he added.
It is learnt that the BCB is considering sending Rana abroad for a second opinion, with officials suspecting the presence of a cyst in the affected area.
The board is expected to seek an expert opinion within Bangladesh before deciding on the next course of action. The immediate priority is to establish the cause of the persistent pain in Rana's glute region, which will help determine a timeline for his return.
Rana could be sent to Qatar's Aspetar Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, a renowned centre for sports medicine, for further assessment.
