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Nahid Rana and Bangladesh Players (Source: AFP)
In a significant development, Bangladesh have suffered a major setback ahead of the third and final T20I against Zimbabwe after fast bowler Nahid Rana has been ruled out with a side strain. The 23-year-old picked up the injury during the second T20I in Bulawayo and is now expected to remain out of action for the next two to three weeks.
The injury has not only ruled him out of ZIM vs BAN 3rd T20I but has also raised serious concerns over his availability for Bangladesh's upcoming two-match Test tour of Australia next month.
Nahid Rana Ruled Out Of BAN vs ZIM 3rd T20I
It is important to mention that Nahid Rana will miss Bangladesh's final T20I against Zimbabwe after suffering a side strain during the second match of the series.
The right-arm pacer experienced discomfort after bowling just 2.3 overs in Bangladesh's 34-run victory on Friday and had to leave the field.
A member of Bangladesh's national selection panel confirmed the development. He stated Rana will definitely miss the deciding match while the team waits for the scan report to understand the extent of the injury.
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"He (Nahid Rana) is certainly missing the third T20I against Zimbabwe and we feel the side strain will take at least two to three weeks to recover," said the selector.
"We are waiting for the scan report while we keep our fingers crossed, as we still have some time before the first Test against Australia," he said.
"The way he is bowling at the moment, missing him in the Australia tour would be a big blow, so we are waiting to see the depth of his injury and actually how many days he will take to recover," he added.
How Did Nahid Rana Perform Before Being Ruled Out Of 3rd T20I vs ZIM?
Before the injury, Rana had made an impressive impact in the T20I series against Zimbabwe. In the opening match, he claimed four wickets for 26 runs. In the 2nd T20I, Rana once again started well and picked up one wicket while conceding just 15 runs.
However, after bowling only 2.3 overs, he suffered the side strain and was forced to leave the field.
Prior to that, in the ODI series, the star bowler in 2 innings picked 7 wickets at an economy rate of 3.45. In the 1st ODI, Rana scalped 6 wickets, conceding just 21 runs, the best spell by a Bangladesh bowler in ODI history.
What Does Nahid Rana's Injury Mean For Bangladesh Tour of Australia 2026?
Bangladesh will travel to Australia for a two-match Test series from August 13 to August 26.
The opening Test will be played at Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin from August 13 to 17, while the second Test will take place at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay from August 21 to 25.
Nahid Rana's injury has become one of the biggest concerns for Bangladesh ahead of their important Test series against Australia.
It is vital to note that Bangladesh Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and selectors recently met at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium to discuss preparations for the tour.
One of the major talking points of the meeting was Nahid Rana’s injury and timeline of recovery.
With the side strain, the young fast bowler will need around two to three weeks to recover, which clearly means that he might miss the opening Test match against Australia (starting on August 13).
If the injury is more serious than initially expected, he might miss the entire Bangladesh Tour of Australia 2026.
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