Injured Shoriful Islam out of second Test against Pakistan

Pakistan v Bangladesh, 2nd Test, Rawalpindi, Scorecard

Shoriful suffered a groin injury, which ruled him out of the ongoing second Test in Rawalpindi.

"Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam has a groin strain and could not be considered for selection in the second Test against Pakistan which got underway in Rawalpindi today. The left-arm pacer had complained of discomfort in the groin area after the first match and subsequent tests confirmed the injury," BCB said in a statement on Saturday, 31 August.

Shoriful had picked up three wickets in the first Test, that Bangaldesh won, including the important scalps of Babar Azam and Shan Masood in the first innings.

The Test started a day late after the first day was completely washed out due to relentless rain. Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss on the second day and elected to bowl first, stating at the toss about Shoriful's replacement.

Taskin, who replaced Shoriful in the playing XI, returns to the longest format after a gap of one year. He last played a Test in June 2023 against Afghanistan.

Twenty-three-year-old Shoriful, who made his Test debut in 2021, has played 11 Tests so far, picking up 25 wickets at 33.72. He now finds himself in a race against time to get fit for Bangladesh's next assignment – a two-Test and three-T20I series against India in mid-September.

Bangladesh's physio Bayjedul Islam Khan also provided a timeline of Shoriful's potential return.

"Shoriful underwent an MRI following the first Test and the results show a Grade 1 left adductor strain. Recovery usually takes around 10 days in such cases and he has started his rehab," Bayjedul said.

Bangladesh got off to good start in the second Test, removing Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique in the first over.