Mushfiqur Rahim gives Bangladesh major World Cup injury scare

Rahim, Bangladesh’s wicketkeeper and a veteran of 208 ODIs, was hit on the hand as he batted against Mustafizur Rahman in the nets at Taunton

Bangladesh have suffered a worrying injury scare ahead of their World Cup match against West Indies, after Mushfiqur Rahim was struck on the hand while practicing.

Rahim, Bangladesh’s wicketkeeper and a veteran of 208 ODIs, suffered the injury as he batted against Mustafizur Rahman in the nets at Taunton.

After a ball hit his right hand, he removed his glove and left the field alongside a member of the squad’s medical team, appearing in considerable discomfort.

While the seriousness of the blow is not yet known, anything significant would represent a major problem for Bangladesh. Rahim struck a match-winning 78 as his side beat South Africa in their first game of the tournament, before hitting 44 in defeat against England.

He is not the only member of this Bangladesh side to be facing fitness concerns in this year’s World Cup.

Shakib Al Hasan has been managing minor thigh trouble picked up during his hundred against England, while captain Mashrafe Mortaza has looked short on fitness throughout the tournament. His run-ups have begun to get shorter as the demands of the extended group stage have caught up with the 35-year-old.

Despite impressing throughout the competition thus far, Bangladesh need a victory from their game on Monday, having failed to pick up a win since dominating South Africa at The Oval on the first weekend of the tournament.

They were beaten narrowly by New Zealand and comprehensively by England, before their game against Sri Lanka fell victim to the weather.

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