Raju to replace Fizz in T20 series against Afghanistan

Right-arm paceman Abul Hasan Raju will replace injury-gripped pacer Mustafizur Rahman in the Bangladesh squad to play the three-match Twenty20 International series against Afghanistan, reports UNB.

The series will begin on June 3 in the Indian city of Dehradun. Fizz-less Tigers reached the Indian city of Dehradun Tuesday afternoon.

However, Abul Hasan Raju will join the team in Dehradun tomorrow (Friday).

Cutter master Mustafiz was ruled out of the India tour due to injury to his left foot in the dying moment to miss the Bangladesh's three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. The series was scheduled for June 3, 5 and 7, all in Dehradun, India.

The Fizz joined the national team's training camp last week following his return from Indian Premier League (IPL), but complained of pain. Subsequent tests found a crack on his left foot's big toe. The pace bowler has been ruled out from the squad as his injury will take around three to four weeks to recover.

Earlier on Tuesday, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) senior physician Debashis Chowdhury said, "An x-ray followed by a CT scan confirmed a hairline fracture on the big toe. It takes around three to four weeks to recover from such injuries and therefore he (Fizz) can't play against Afghanistan. We expect him to start rehab in two weeks after which we will continue to monitor and assess him."