Mahmudullah sustains Grade 1 tear

Senior Bangladesh batsman Mahmudullah Riyad has suffered a Grade 1 tear on his right calf muscle during the team's 62-run win over Afghanistan in their World Cup match against Afghanistan on Monday.

The Tigers' technical director Khaled Mahmud Shujon revealed the status of Mahmudullah's injury around three hours after the match ended in Southampton. Mahmudullah had gone for a scan after the match.

"The scan results showed a Grade-1 tear on Riyad's right calf," Mahmud told The Daily Star. "At the moment, that is all I can say as I have not spoken to the physio [Thihan Chandramohan] yet. I can tell you more about the recovery period in the morning after speaking to the physio."

Typically, a Grade 1 tear takes between seven to 14 days to heal. Mahmudullah came into the match with strapping on his right leg, but it could not be ascertained whether he carried the injury into the match and aggravated it, or whether he sustained the injury while batting.

Mahmudullah batted at number six in the match and constructed a vital 56-run partnership with Mushfiqur Rahim in Bangladesh's total of 262 for seven. However, within two or three overs of coming to bat, Mahmudullah was hobbling while running between the wickets. He scored 27 off 38 balls. He did not field for the entirety of Afghanistan's innings.

Mahmudullah Riyad during the match against Afghanistan. Photo: Reuters

Fortunately for Bangladesh, there are seven days before their penultimate World Cup match against India on July 2. The match in Birmingham, and their last against Pakistan at Lord's are both must-win encounters for Bangladesh to stay in contention for the World Cup semifinals.