Yasir Ali has been ruled out of Bangladesh’s forthcoming two-match Test series with the West Indies owing to a back ailment. After Mushfiqur Rahim chose to forgo the series in order to perform Hajj, Yasir was anticipated to step in.
According to the team’s physio Bayjedul Islam, the 26-year-old batter is suffering from discogenic back pain in the lumbar spine. “Recovery from such injuries take about two to three weeks’ time. Therefore, he will not be available for the Test series,” Islam added.
Yasir sustained a back injury while batting on 12 and was forced to retire injured against the Cricket West Indies President’s XI at the CCG on June 10th. He did not return to the game, and an MRI later confirmed Discogenic Back Pain.
Yasir has scored 196 runs at a strike rate of 24.50 in five Tests. Yasir did an outstanding job filling in for Shakib Al Hasan in New Zealand and South Africa earlier this year. After Shakib’s return to the team, Yasir was dropped from the squad.
Bangladesh’s selectors are yet to find a substitute for Yasir. Nurul Hasan, who returned to the Test squad after a prolific domestic season, appears to be the only plausible choice at No 5. Mosaddek Hossain, who was also included to all three West Indies squads, hasn’t been in great form since his performances against Sri Lanka last month.
It is to be noted that the series against West Indies marks a new beginning for
Bangladesh as Shakib Al Hasan will start his 2nd innings as Team’s captain again. With so many changes taking place, Bangladesh will hope to not let it affect their performance in the Caribbean Islands where West Indies will be ready to take them.
The current Bangladesh Test squad includes:
Mominul Haque, Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das (wk), Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Mustafizur Rahman, Taijul Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Nurul Hasan (wk), Mosaddek Hossain, Ebadot Hossain, Shohidul Islam, Rezaur Rahman Raja.
