Shakib in doubt with thigh injury

A scan done yesterday on ace Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan suggested a Grade 1 strain on his left thigh, placing him in doubt for today’s World Cup match against Sri Lanka at the Bristol County Ground.

Shakib went for a scan yesterday evening, and Bangladesh team technical manager Khaled Mahmud said that it was gathered from an image of the scan that there could be a Grade 1 strain resulting from the injury Shakib sustained during the match against England in Cardiff on Saturday. However, a decision on the severity of the strain and consequently, his availability for today’s match will only be taken once the scan is reviewed by a radiologist in the morning today.

“It looks like a Grade 1 strain,” Mahmud informed yesterday. “We are not yet sure whether he can play tomorrow [Tuesday]. It doesn’t look serious. Shakib was fine yesterday, but seemed to be feeling it more today.”

The team management are also not hurrying into a decision on Shakib as rain is forecast today in Bristol, so the match might be delayed or not take place at all.

“Shakib Al Hasan suffered a left thigh strain while batting during the World Cup match against England. He underwent a precautionary scan today [Monday] in Bristol. We are waiting on a specialist assessment and report,” physio Thihan Chandramohan informed through a press release yesterday.

Shakib, who scored 121 in the 106-run defeat on Saturday and received treatment from Chandramohan early on in his innings at the Cardiff Wales Stadium, was present during team practice but did not bat or bowl at the Bristol County Ground on Monday, which is not an alarming sign as he has been known to take things easy on the eve of a match.

Shakib received treatment from the physio at the end of the eighth over of the innings on Saturday, and while he hobbled during runs for two or three overs after that, he appeared to bat unfettered till he was out in the 40th over. 

Shakib’s lowest score in the three matches so far has been 64 against New Zealand. He is still the highest scorer in the World Cup with 260 runs. He has also taken three wickets, so losing him ahead of a crucial encounter could be a major setback. Having lost two of three matches, Bangladesh will be desperate to get a positive result against a lower-ranked side to keep their race to the semifinals on track.