Bangladesh left-arm pace bowler Shariful Islam has been ruled out of the second and final Test match against Sri Lanka, starting this Monday in Dhaka, due to a hand injury.
Shariful had been struck on his right hand while batting on the fourth day Wednesday against Asitha Fernando during the just concluded Chittagong Test.
An X-ray confirmed a fracture which could keep him out of action for around four to five weeks.
“Shariful had a contusion of the right hand while batting. After the fourth day’s play an X-ray was carried out which has revealed a fracture on the base of the fifth metacarpal bone. Such injuries tend to take around three weeks to heal followed by a couple of weeks rehab. He will not be available to play for four to five weeks,” national team physio Bayjedul Islam said to the media.
Shariful made his Test debut against Sri Lanka last year and has played three Tests so far.
After the Sri Lanka series, Bangladesh will play a two-Test series against the West Indies, which is part of the World Test championship.
Those two Tests against the Windies are scheduled to start from mid-June and Shariful will likely miss that series too.
