Sports Desk:

Bangladesh received a huge blow ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup as their premier pace bowler Shoriful Islam received six stitches on his left hand after sustaining an injury during their warm-up game against India at New York on Saturday.

It is understood that he will require at least one week to recover and is doubtful for the opening game against Sri Lanka, scheduled in Dallas on June 7.

Shoriful, who was the most successful bowler for Bangladesh against India in New York giving away 26 runs in 3.5 overs for one wicket, could not complete his allotted four overs as he sustained the injury on his left palm when Hardik Pandya got under a yorker bowled by the left-arm pacer and hit it straight back at the bowler.

Shoriful was taken out immediately from the ground as his palm seemed to have swollen following that instant impact by the ball and later found out six stitches between palm and the index finger were needed.

Suppose Shoriful fails to recover in time for the entire tournament. In that case, that will be a huge blow for the Asian side as he is one of the leading bowlers in the country alongside Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed and Tanzim Shakib.

Bangladesh opted to carry two travelling reserves including pacer Hasan Mahmud as the team management wanted to have a backup for the injured Taskin, who is expected to be available ahead of the opening game against Sri Lanka.

In case Shoriful fails to return during the tournament, Hasan might be included in the 15-member squad. The Bangladesh Cricket Board is yet to announce anything official about Shoriful’s injury. Bangladesh failed to capitalize on their only warm-up match against India as they were beaten by 60 runs at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Saturday.