Bangladesh lose opener to injury for first Pakistan Test
Key top-order batter is battling a groin concern and has already been ruled out of the opening Test in Rawalpindi.
Bangladesh have suffered a blow with news that opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy will miss the first Test against Pakistan due to injury.
Joy hurt his groin when playing for Bangladesh A in a recent four-day match against Pakistan A, with scans revealing the 23-year-old picked up Grade 1 adductor strain.
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It means Joy will be sidelined for the opening contest of the crucial ICC World Test Championship series in Pakistan that commences in Rawalpindi on Wednesday and will be racing the clock to prove his fitness in time for the second game at the same venue from August 30.
"Joy had complained of pain in the right groin on 14 August while playing for Bangladesh A in the four-day match against Pakistan A," Bangladesh team physio Bayjedul Islam Khan said.
"He underwent an MRI followed by physical assessment and it has since been confirmed that he has a Grade 1 adductor strain in the right groin.
"He has begun his rehab. Such injuries usually take about 10 to 14 days to recover from. He will not be available for the first Test but we hope to have him fit for the second Test which starts on 30 August."
Bangladesh's Litton Das was the leading run-scorer for his side with a brisk 76 against England in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023
Joy has been a regular in Bangladesh's Test side since making his debut against Pakistan in 2021, with the right-hander having made one century and four half centuries from 13 Test match appearances.
Bangladesh currently sit in eighth place on the World Test Championship standings and will be keen for a pair of positive results in Pakistan to stay in contention for next year's one-off final at Lord's.
World Test Championship Standings
Bangladesh Test squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Kumar Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Syed Khaled Ahmed