Bangladesh star player Mushfiqur Rahim's rib injury has raised concerns on his fitness ahead of the three-test series against New Zealand. Despite scans revealing a broken rib, Mushfiqur went on to play the third ODI. Media reports suggest that his rib injury resurfaced during the second ODI. Bangladesh are scheduled to play three Tests between February 28 and March 20.
Bangladesh are already sweating over injured Al Hasan and Taskin Ahmed, now Rahim is the latest entry into the list. Apart from a rib injury, Mushfiqur sustained a side strain and a wrist injury during the ongoing tour.
Bangladesh head coach Steve Rhodes said that the team management is unsure of where his recovery stands and whether Mushfiqur is available or not.
'He [Mushfiqur] has got a problem with his wrist area, just above his thumb. The idea is to basically stop that moving so he has got a protection on that which will stop it from moving. We will keep it like that for three days and then we will open it up and see what sort of movement there is and how the pain is and we will take it from there. But I wouldn't really say he is out or wouldn't really say [he's] in. So, the answer is sorry, I don't know,' Rhodes told reporters ahead of the Test series.
Rhodes said that the team have a few niggles but that he is confident of putting eleven best players out there.
"I think that 15 days' cricket, which it could be out of 24 days, is difficult. Not many teams will play a three-Test series in 24 days," Rhodes said. 'It is not something to worry about, given that some of the squad are carrying niggling injuries, it could be a factor as the series progresses.
"We got a few little niggles here but hopefully we got a great medical team and they'll pull them through and we will put our best 11 out there."