Pacer Mustafizur Rahman has added to Bangladesh’s growing injury concerns ahead of the 2019 ICC World Cup in England.

The left-armed pacer recently hurt his ankle while training is now set to be ruled out for two weeks at least. Mustafizur is expected to make the final 15-man Bangladesh World Cup squad but the pacer could now miss the early stages of the tournament including the warm-up matches in England.

“There is no fracture-related injury but there is some pain in the ligament, a lateral ankle sprain,” Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief physio Dr Debashish Chowdhury told the Daily Star.

“He had suffered this kind of sprain before but predictions regarding these injuries are difficult.

“He will rest partially with little exercise in between and his condition will be reassessed two weeks from now.”

Mustafizur will be crucial to Bangladesh’s World Cup hopes.

Mustafizur is not the only Bangladesh player sweating over their fitness ahead of the World Cup with wicketkeeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim still nursing a broken rib-cage he sustained during the Asia Cup last year.

Batting stalwart Mahmudullah, meanwhile, has only just resumed batting in the nets after recovering from a shoulder injury. Pacers Rubel Hossain and Taskin Ahmed are also currently recuperating from injuries.

The final deadline for the announcement of the 2019 World Cup squads is April 23. Bangladesh will open their WC campaign on June 2 against South Africa at the Oval in London. Prior to arriving in England, the Bangladesh ODI squad will participate in a tri-series in Ireland also involving West Indies.

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