Shakib ruled out of Sri Lanka tour

Shakib Al Hasan has been ruled out of Bangladesh's tour to Sri Lanka next month after it was decided that he will undergo surgery this week on his right calf muscle*. His involvement in the Zimbabwe tour in April is also in doubt, as it will take him six weeks to return to active cricket, according to BCB's chief medical officer, Dr Debashish Chowdhury.

"Shakib will be out of action for at least six weeks after the surgery," Chowdhury said. "BCB has granted him permission to undergo the surgery. BCB president Nazmul Hasan agreed to release him as per the advice of the specialist in Australia."

Chowdhury however is unsure whether Shakib will return to action immediately after making a full recovery. "Apart from the exertional compartmental syndrome for which he is undergoing surgery, Shakib has sustained tenoperiostitis and stress reaction on his tibia," he said. "To heal the other two complications, he will need rest, physiotherapy, a rehabilitation programme and biomechanical correction." Shakib is expected to do the biomechanical correction test on Sunday.

He first complained of pain in his shin during Bangladesh's Test series against West Indies in November last year. He was immediately given rest and recovered in time for the Bangladesh Premier League, but he missed a couple of games in the tournament and afterwards was seen bowling off a very short run-up.

Towards the end of the tournament, Shakib was diagnosed with exertional compartment syndrome on his shin bone, a condition that can be caused by frequent running, and leads to pain and swelling. After the final, he admitted that his movement was restricted.

As a result, he was sent to Australia on February 20 where a specialist suggested he undergo the surgery to reduce stiffness in the injured area.

Bangladesh will leave for Sri Lanka on February 28, to play two Tests, three ODIs and a Twenty20.