Rana ruled out of Australia series

Bangladesh speedster Nahid Rana has been ruled out of the upcoming two-match Test series against Australia, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) sources have confirmed.

Rana’s participation in the series was in doubt following a side-strain injury during the second T20I against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on July 17. He underwent scans after returning to the country on Wednesday.

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“Rana is set to miss the Australia series,” BCB chief physician Debashish Chowdhury told The Daily Star on Saturday.

BCB medical department sources also informed that there were altogether five players with injury concerns. The board will provide updates on the players today in an official release. 

Wicketkeeper Litton Das is also facing injury concerns, while pacer Shoriful Islam was seen doing light activities in training today after getting injured in Zimbabwe.

Bangladesh have kept Ebadot Hossain and Hasan Mahmud lined up, with the latter having flown back from his LPL stint yesterday.

Ebadot is currently in Italy after initially opting out of the Australia tour for family reasons. Chief selector Habibul Bashar told The Daily Star that if Ebadot returns to the country by July 30 to complete his Australian visa formalities, he could still be included in the squad. 

The paceman, according to sources, was looking to return to the country.

The Tigers are scheduled to leave for Australia on July 31 and will play a four-day tour match against a Cricket Australia XI on August 6 before the opening Test in Darwin. 

The second Test will begin in Mackay on August 22.