Veteran cricketer Mushfiqur Rahim has been ruled out of the first Test between Bangladesh and West Indies, which began at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on October 28, 2026. The 38-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, who is Bangladesh's highest run-scorer in Test cricket and a 106-Test veteran, sustained a contusion to his right index finger during a nets session at the BCB Academy premises on Tuesday and could not recover in time for the series opener.
The injury occurred when a bouncer struck Mushfiqur's right index finger while he was batting in the nets on Tuesday morning. He was forced to cut short his session and left the ground with his finger taped. On Wednesday morning, he experienced pain when attempting to put on his wicketkeeping gloves, and the team management determined he was not fit to play.
An X-ray conducted on Wednesday showed no tear in the finger, offering some relief. Bangladesh team physiotherapist Bayjedul Islam Khan confirmed the nature of the injury and the expected recovery timeline. With Mushfiqur unavailable, Towhid Hridoy was included in Bangladesh's XI for the first Test. Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bat first at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
What did the Bangladesh team physiotherapist say about the injury?
Bangladesh team physiotherapist Bayjedul Islam Khan addressed the media on Wednesday to clarify the extent of Mushfiqur's finger injury. The X-ray result ruled out a tear, and the injury was classified as a contusion, meaning the recovery window is expected to be short rather than requiring extended rest or surgical intervention.
"He sustained an injury to his right index finger during practice yesterday. He remained under observation, but there had not been sufficient improvement by this morning. It is a contusion injury, and we hope he will recover within the next three days. He will be available for the next Test," Bayjedul Islam said as quoted by Cricbuzz.
When is Mushfiqur expected to return and what is at stake in this series?
Mushfiqur is expected to be fit within three days of the injury, which puts him in line to feature in the second Test in Sylhet, scheduled to begin on November 5. He had also missed Bangladesh's last Test against West Indies during the 2024 tour of the Caribbean due to injury, making this a second consecutive absence against the same opponents.
The two-match series carries significant weight in the context of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle. It forms part of Bangladesh's remaining six Tests in that cycle, and the team currently sits fourth in the standings. To reach the WTC final for the first time, Bangladesh need four wins and at least one draw from their remaining matches.
Mushfiqur's absence from the Mirpur Test is a notable one given his recent form. In his previous Test appearance, against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi earlier in October 2026, he scored 81 runs, underlining his continued importance to Bangladesh's batting lineup at the highest level.
