Although three days have passed since Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan left the ground after feeling uncomfortable with his left thigh during the World Cup game against New Zealand on Friday, the team management has yet to provide the exact picture of the all-rounder's injury status.

Shakib had an MRI scan after that game in Chennai which Bangladesh lost by eight wickets. 

The following day, the team management issued a statement where a lot of things had been said about the player's discomfort and his commitment on the field, but did not mention what exactly came up in the MRI scan and the physio's interpretation of the diagnosis. 

"Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan felt discomfort near his left quadriceps while batting during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup India 2023 match against New Zealand in Chennai yesterday. An MRI was performed of the affected area following the match," read the statement. 

Quoting the team physio Bayjedul Islam Khan, the statement also said, "The player felt uncomfortable in the left quadriceps region when he was batting. He later fielded and completed his full quota of ten overs. He had an MRI scan done after the game and we will continue to observe his fitness for the coming matches. We will clinically assess his day-to-day progress and take measures accordingly." 

In the same game, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson picked up an injury on his left thumb. The next morning New Zealand Cricket issued a statement saying that an X-ray revealed an undisplaced fracture to his left thumb. The New Zealand team management also said that Williamson would remain with the squad with the hope that he might be available for the team's final World Cup pool matches in November before the semifinals and the final. 

While the Kiwis followed the standard practice regarding the injury status of a player, the Bangladesh Cricket Board appeared to have left its fans guessing about the injury situation of the premier all-rounder. 

It is not understandable what prompted the Bangladesh team management not to disclose the injury status of Shakib depending on the MRI diagnosis. 

The physio said that they would 'continuously observe' Shakib's fitness and 'clinically assess his day-to-day progress' without saying a word about the gravity of Shakib's injury. 

According to Azmal Ahmed Mithu, a former BCB sports physiotherapist now based in Canada, an MRI scan identifies any abnormalities in the muscle. 

He said that expert medical professionals like physiotherapists assess the injury status. A Grade 1 muscle injury means a minimum of three weeks' rest while a Grade 3 injury leaves a player out of action for at least six months. 

Mithu, however, said that Shakib's injury might not be that serious, adding that it might be a case of stress fracture or cramp. 

If that is the case, then it's a very good news for the Tigers who are desperately looking forward to getting their World Cup campaign back on track after two heavy defeats against England and New Zealand. 

Unfortunately, this simple disclosure is yet to come from the horse's mouth. 

The Tigers have been maintaining a low-key profile since they left Dhaka following the controversial last-minute exclusion of experienced opener Tamim Iqbal from the squad on fitness ground. They have imposed embargo on players talking to the media. Bangladesh are the only team in this World Cup who are lukewarm about sending players to an official briefing and in the mixed zone after a game. 

This strategy might have stemmed from the fear of players being distracted and team harmony being upset. 

But if keeping the injury status of a player in the dark has anything to do with the ironclad team strategy, then it is not only inexplicable but also weird and unprofessional.