Bangladesh veteran wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim has been sidelined for the first Test against the West Indies after sustaining a finger injury during Tuesday’s practice. The injury occurred at the BCB Academy when a delivery struck his right index finger, forcing him to leave the nets due to pain. Although subsequent X-rays confirmed there was no fracture, the player remained in discomfort while attempting to wear gloves on Wednesday morning.
Team physiotherapist Bayjedul Islam Khan provided an update on the situation, describing the issue as a contusion. “He remained under observation, but there had not been sufficient improvement by this morning. It is a contusion injury, and we hope he will recover within the next three days. He will be available for the next Test,” Khan stated. The second match of the series is scheduled to take place in Sylhet, beginning November 5.
With Mushfiqur unavailable, the team has drafted Towhid Hridoy into the playing XI for the series opener at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto opted to bat first after winning the toss. Mushfiqur entered this series following an impressive performance where he scored 81 runs against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi earlier this month.
This series remains a critical component of Bangladesh’s campaign in the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle. As the team looks to secure a spot in the final for the first time, they face a challenging path requiring at least four victories and one draw from their six remaining Test matches.
