Knee injury puts Nazmul out of ODI series

Bangladesh fast bowler Nazmul Hossain has been ruled out of the ODI series in Sri Lanka after injuring his left knee during training in Colombo. Nazmul twisted his knee while avoiding a straight drive from Ziaur Rahman during a net session, on what would have been the fifth day of the second Test.

"Nazmul's injury has not responded to treatment and he has therefore been ruled out of the series against Sri Lanka," Bangladesh physio Vibhav Singh said. "We have already consulted with two orthopedic surgeons and they have said that they will need to assess him further."

Bangladesh are now without three of their best quicks - Mashrafe Mortaza, Shafiul Islam and Nazmul. Mortaza has an injured ankle and Shafiul a side strain. Given the assistance the conditions in Hambantota - the venue for the first ODI - give the fast bowlers, Bangladesh's depleted resources are a concern.

"We have the confidence but we are without some quality senior players like Mashrafe [Mortaza] and Shakib [Al Hasan]," Mushfiqur said. "Their presence would have given our side more balance. If the pace bowlers can give us a good start in the three matches, the result will be very different. A lot is depending on them.

"We are playing day-night matches, the ball will move here. There are also two new balls from the respective ends, so we will depend on our pace bowlers."

Nazmul has not played for Bangladesh since March last year, after suffering a similar injury to his knee. A replacement is being sought for this series but won't arrive before the first ODI, which leaves Bangladesh with Rubel Hossain and Abul Hasan as pace options.

Rubel is the more experienced of the two and has a good economy rate but he has bowled poorly towards the end of limited-overs matches. Abul hasn't taken a wicket in the two one-dayers he has played so far. Ziaur Rahman is the other seam bowling option, but he is yet to play ODIs.

Fortunately for Bangladesh, the batsmen have been relatively in good form. They have Tamim Iqbal back after he missed the Tests because of injury. The only concern is Mahmudullah, who did not have a good Test series with the bat.

"He [Mahmudullah] was unlucky in two of the three dismissals during the Test series," Mushfiqur said. "He has worked extra hard in between the Tests and ODIs so I would hope he will make up for the miss in the Tests here.

"He was our best player in the West Indies ODIs, so he has that confidence. The replacements have done well. Mominul [Haque], [Anamul Haque] Bijoy, [Mohammad] Ashraful and Jahurul [Islam] have been among the runs. It is an encouraging sign for the team that there are players who can come in and settle quickly."