Injured Shanto ruled out of West Indies Tests

Bangladesh received a huge blow ahead of the series decider against Afghanistan on Monday after skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto got ruled out of the contest due to a groin injury. Furthermore, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) also confirmed that Najmul will be unavailable for the West Indies Tests that begins later this month, report agencies.

Shanto sustained the injury while fielding in the second game that forced him to leave the field at one point with Mehidy Hasan taking up the responsibility of leading the side. "Due to a groin injury Najmul is not playing the last game against Afghanistan," BCB chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain confirmed to the online sports portal Cricbuzz on Monday.

Shanto played a crucial role in the second game as his knock of 76 helped Bangladesh level the series. "Shanto underwent an MRI in Sharjah yesterday," BCB's Senior Physician Dr. Debashis Chowdhury said.

"We have received the team physio's report and the scan report, which has confirmed a Grade II strain on his left groin. This will require a period of rest and rehabilitation. He has been ruled out of the third ODI against Afghanistan and will also be unavailable for the Test series in the West Indies. We will reassess his condition after two weeks. He will return home from the UAE to continue his rehab."

Mehidy will lead Bangladesh in the third game against Afghanistan and he is also expected to lead the Test side in West Indies in Najmul's absence.

Bangladesh are already without Mushfiqur Rahim in the ongoing ODI series and the veteran will not be a part of the Test squad to play in the Caribbean as well.

BCB is yet to name Shanto's replacement for the West Indies Test series but it is highly likely that Miraz will lead in the Test series too.

Earlier, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has named the squad for the two ICC World Test Championship (WTC) matches against the West Indies.

It will be Bangladesh's first Test series in West Indies since 2022, when they suffered a clean sweep in a two-match series.

Bangladesh brought back left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam for this series. He missed home series against South Africa and also missed the India series before that.

The first Test is scheduled to begin on November 22 at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, followed by the second match on November 30 at Sabina Park in Jamaica.

The tour will begin with a 4-day warm-up match from November 15-19 at Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.

After the Test series, Bangladesh will play a limited-overs segment, with the first ODU set for December 08 at Warner Park in St. Kitts. The subsequent ODIs are scheduled for December 10 and December 12, both at the same venue.

Following the ODI series, the tour will conclude with a three-match T20I series in St. Vincent. The T20Is are slated for December 15, December 17, and December 19, all taking place at Arnos Vale Playing Field in Kingstown.

Bangladesh Test Squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque Showrab, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Litton Kumer Das (Wicketkeeper), Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Vice Captain), Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana, Hasan Murad.