Darwin: Bangladesh fast bowler Nahid Rana ruled ou...

By Rohan Gupta — 27 July 2026 — 3 min read

Injury Concerns for Bangladesh Ahead of Australia Tour

Bangladesh will be without fast bowler Nahid Rana for their upcoming Test tour of Australia due to a side strain. The 23-year-old sustained a left side strain during the second T20 international against Zimbabwe on July 17. Scans confirmed a grade two strain, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) indicating a recovery period of at least six weeks.

Rana, known for regularly bowling at speeds above 150kph, is expected to need approximately four weeks for tissue healing, followed by an additional two to four weeks of bowling workload progression. His total recovery time is estimated to be between six and eight weeks from the date of injury, making him unavailable for the two-Test series.

The absence of Rana is considered a significant setback for Bangladesh, especially given his performance this year. He has claimed the most wickets in men’s internationals, with 44 across all three formats at an average of 18.31. Rana also troubled Australia’s top order in a recent ODI series in Dhaka, taking 4-41 in the first ODI, which included the wicket of Alex Carey.

According to CricViz, Rana has been the fastest bowler in Test cricket since his debut in March 2024, averaging 141.54kph. Only Australia’s Mitchell Starc, with an average of 141.04kph, has bowled above 140kph during the same period.

Other Key Players Also Facing Injury Setbacks

In addition to Rana, Bangladesh is also dealing with injuries to other key players. Left-arm fast bowler Shoriful Islam is nursing a hamstring injury, while wicketkeeper Litton Das has a calf issue. Both players are likely to miss the series opener in Darwin, which begins on August 13. However, there is a possibility they could return for the second Test in Mackay.

Shoriful Islam also posed challenges for Australia during their June visit, achieving a career-best 6-48 in the third ODI. Alongside Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful has contributed to Bangladesh’s emergence as the second-fastest Test pace attack, behind Australia, over the past two years. This pace attack has been instrumental in Bangladesh winning their two most recent series 2-0 against Ireland and Pakistan.

Despite the injuries, Australia coach Andrew McDonald has expressed caution regarding Bangladesh’s bowling depth. He noted that they possess other capable bowlers who could be potent in Australian conditions.

Squad Announcement and Series Details

Najmul Hossain Shanto will captain Bangladesh for their first Test series in Australia since 2003. These matches will contribute to the ICC World Test Championship (2025-27) points. Australia, the 2023 champions, have already named their squad for the series, which includes Pat Cummins as captain, Scott Boland, and Steve Smith.

The Bangladesh squad for the first Test features Soumya Sarkar, who last played in the format in 2021 and has 16 Tests under his belt. The batting lineup also includes experienced players such as Mushfiqur Rahim, Mominul Haque, and Shadman Islam.

With the injuries impacting the pace attack, Bangladesh will rely on Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, and Ebadot Hossain. Uncapped player Musfik Hasan has also been included in the squad. The spin department will be led by Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam.

The Bangladesh team is scheduled to depart for Darwin on August 1. The NRMA Insurance Bangladesh Test series will commence with the first Test from August 13-17 at Marrara Stadium in Darwin, followed by the second Test from August 22-26 at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay.

The full squad for the first Test is: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Soumya Sarkar, Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Amite Hasan, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Vice Captain), Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Musfik Hasan.

Source: cricket.com.au