Darwin: Bangladesh fast bowler Nahid Rana ruled out of Australia Test series
Injury Concerns for Bangladesh Ahead of Australia Tour
Bangladesh will be without fast bowler Nahid Rana for their upcoming Test tour of Australia due to a side strain. The 23-year-old sustained a left side strain during a T20 International match against Zimbabwe on July 17. Scans confirmed a grade two strain, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) indicating a recovery period of at least six weeks.
Rana, known for his pace, is expected to need approximately four weeks for tissue healing, followed by an additional two to four weeks for bowling workload progression. His total recovery time is estimated to be six to eight weeks from the date of injury, which rules him out of the two-Test series in Australia.
The absence of Rana is considered a significant setback for Bangladesh’s prospects against Australia on their home ground. Rana has been a prominent fast-bowling talent, having taken the most wickets in men’s internationals this year, with 44 across three formats at an average of 18.31.
He previously troubled Australia’s top order during an ODI series victory in Dhaka last month, where he claimed 4-41 in the first ODI, including the wicket of Alex Carey. According to CricViz, Rana has been the fastest bowler in Test cricket since his debut in March 2024, maintaining an average speed of 141.54kph throughout his career.
Other players also facing injury concerns include left-arm fast bowler Shoriful Islam, who has a hamstring injury, and wicketkeeper Litton Das, who is dealing with a calf issue. Both are likely to miss the first Test in Darwin but could potentially return for the second Test in Mackay.
Squad Announcement and Australian Concerns
Najmul Hossain Shanto will captain Bangladesh for their first Test series in Australia since 2003. The squad for the first Test includes experienced batsmen such as Mushfiqur Rahim, Mominul Haque, and Shadman Islam. Soumya Sarkar, who last played in the format in 2021, has also been named in the squad.
The pace attack will rely on Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, and Ebadot Hossain, with uncapped Musfik Hasan also included. The spin department will be led by Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam.
Despite the injuries, Australia coach Andrew McDonald has expressed caution regarding Bangladesh’s bowling attack. He noted that Bangladesh possesses depth beyond the injured players and has a pace attack that “could be pretty potent” in Australia.
Shoriful Islam also posed challenges during Australia’s visit in June, achieving a career-best 6-48 in the third ODI. Alongside Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful has contributed to Bangladesh’s emergence as the second-fastest Test pace attack globally, behind Australia, over the past two years. This strong pace contingent helped Bangladesh secure 2-0 series victories against Ireland and Pakistan.
The upcoming series will contribute to the ICC World Test Championship (2025-27) points. Australia, who won the title in 2023, have already announced their squad, which includes Pat Cummins as captain, alongside players like Scott Boland, Alex Carey, and Steve Smith.
Bangladesh is scheduled to depart for Darwin on August 1. The first Test is set to take place from August 13-17 at Marrara Stadium in Darwin, followed by the second Test from August 22-26 at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay.
Source: cricket.com.au
