Mushy's nightmare

Mushfiqur Rahim (R) hurt the ring finger on his right hand while trying to grasp a catch in the 35th over of the Pakistan innings. The Bangladesh skipper, however, is likely to feature today. PHOTO: STAR

It will not take one more than a cursory glance to realise that hosts Bangladesh had a miserable second day in the first Test against Pakistan in Khulna yesterday. However, for those who watched the three sessions closely will find out that the day was nightmarish for one particular player, Mushfiqur Rahim. From his batting and his keeping to his on-field decisions, it was an error-prone day for the Bangladesh skipper in the longer version of the game. And to further rub salt into the wound, Mushfiqur had to leave the field, long before the stumps were drawn, with a bruised finger.

Last thing first. The day for Mushfiqur was cut short in the 34th over of Pakistan's innings when he shelled a catch offered by Azhar Ali behind the stumps off debutant Mohammad Shahid when the batsman was on 28. The ball sprained Mushfiqur's ring finger on the right hand. After standing on for 11 more deliveries, the Bangladesh skipper was taken to a hospital where X-rays revealed that he did not suffer any fractures.

"He is likely to play tomorrow (Thursday). He will now be taking medicine and applying ice," informed Bangladesh team's media manager Rabeed Imam.

Azhar, the beneficiary of Mushfiqur's dropped attempt, went on to remain unbeaten on 65. But it wasn't the first time the Pakistan batsman was reprieved. The right-hander was earlier dropped by Mushfiqur off Shakib Al Hasan.

Mushfqiur's batting wasn't anything worth writing home about either. The Bangladesh skipper attempted a half-hearted cut shot against a short and turning delivery from leg-spinner Yasir Shah; lobbing it up for an easy catch. The moment of indiscretion came at a time when Bangladesh were six down, having just lost Soumya Sarkar in the previous over, and the tail to follow. Mushfiqur departed for 32 and the Bangladesh tail was wrapped up 22 runs later.

To make matters worse, Mushfiqur's on-field decisions raised a few eye-brows too. He took off debutant Shahid after only one over. By the time Shahid was brought back for his second spell in the 35th over, Pakistan had already reached 130. Ironically that's what eventually ended Mushfiqur's day.  In the very first ball of the pacer's second over, he dropped the catch and left the field in agony.