Bangladesh have been hit with a major injury scare ahead of the first Test against the West Indies on 28 October, following an unexpected blow to veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim during a practice session. The wicketkeeper-batter sustained a injury to his hand whilst facing deliveries in the nets at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Tuesday.

Physiotherapy staff immediately administered ice to the affected area on the field before Mushfiqur was forced to cut his training session short. While the full extent of the damage remains under assessment, the incident has sparked widespread concern over his availability for the series opener.

Addressing the media shortly after the incident, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto sought to play down fears regarding the senior batsman’s fitness. Shanto clarified that he had not received any official word indicating Mushfiqur would be sidelined for the match.

“Everything is fine so far. I have not heard anything to suggest that he will be unable to play,” the skipper stated.

Adding to the team’s selection dilemmas is the status of Litton Das, who is returning from an injury lay-off of his own. The dynamic wicketkeeper-batter actively participated in both batting and wicketkeeping drills during the morning net session. However, the team management is still awaiting a comprehensive evaluation from the medical staff before confirming his inclusion in the playing eleven.

“Litton worked on his fitness again this morning and continues to look good,” Shanto noted regarding the player’s recovery. “The physio and trainer have not delivered their final report yet. If everything checks out, he will feature in the match. Although he completed all his batting and keeping duties during practice, we are waiting on the complete report.”

With the upcoming two-match series forming an integral part of the ICC World Test Championship, securing a positive outcome on home soil is critical for Bangladesh. Consequently, the team management remains on high alert regarding the physical condition of these two key middle-order anchors, with final team selection hinges entirely upon late fitness tests.