Shakib's finger still in pain

Bangladesh Test and T20I skipper Shakib Al Hasan is suffering from pain on his left little finger, which had sustained an injury during a tri-nation series also comprising of Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka at home in January.

The ace all-rounder will have to take painkillers to participate in the two remaining T20Is against the West Indies but it is likely that he will undergo surgery. He was also absent from the training session in Florida yesterday ahead of the second T20I.

"He has been given an anti-inflammatory injection as the pain recurred. Once he returns home we can take a better look at him and decide the next step," Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) chief physician Debashish Chowdhury told media yesterday.

"It is the second time he is taking such injections. He had taken them in Australia, where he went immediately after the injury. Although in some cases we have seen sportsmen manage their injuries with such medication, the problem arises if it is repeated often as the steroids have some side effects."

"If he needs an operation then he will be out for at least six weeks," he added.

Shakib was forced to leave the field midway through the tri-nation final against Sri Lanka and later missed the following two-match Test series and two T20Is against Sri Lanka before joining the squad halfway through the Nidahas Trophy in March.

It was learned that the 31-year-old will have a discussion with the BCB to chalk out a date for the operation and there is a possibility that Shakib may skip international assignments to undergo surgery in the coming days.

Bangladesh will play the Asia Cup in September which will be followed by home series against Zimbabwe and West Indies.