According to sources close to Bangladesh Mustafizur Rahman and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), an old shoulder injury has resurfaced for the left-arm pacer who had been on a break since playing the Champions Trophy.

So far, a conservative treatment has been prioritised in this case.

In 2016, during a stint with Sussex, Mustafizur suffered a recurring injury called SLAP (Superior Labrum from Anterior to Posterior) tear. Mustafizur would later undergo surgery that year in London. It is often suggested that the pacer has not remained the same since that injury.

Mustafizur had taken a PRP injection on March 11 this year and had been told to take time off. The injection is used to stimulate healing and reduce pain through regeneration.

However, while the PRP injection also required him to rest, not appearing in the Dhaka Premier League also worked in BCB's medical team and Mustafizur's favour.

"We had given him two to three weeks' time, and two weeks have passed. So, slowly he would be beginning bowling drills. For us, it was a blessing in disguise since he didn't play and there was time for recovery," BCB chief physician Dr Debashish Chowdhury informed.

"His injection was a PRP injection, which is a regenerative injection. It's not directly related to his injury. Many players actually take regenerative injections during the off-season to somewhat recover," he added.

The extent of the shoulder injury and the problems it creates would be more apparent when the bowler returns to competitive cricket. For now, rest and rehabilitation would help Mustafizur get back into flow.

"One solution is rest, which he got, and along with that, there are rehabilitation exercises which he would be undergoing as part of injury management. Now, when he returns to cricket, we will be able to understand what kind of complaints he has [regarding the injury]," he said.

Mustafizur had not taken a token for the DPL players' transfer, and Prime Bank sources had previously informed that if medical reports concur, the player can appear for the team. BCB sources also informed that the left-arm pacer may be available for the Super League phase.