The 23-year-old paceman bowled in the nets yesterday but felt uncomfortable with his troubled back since arriving in Sri Lanka on June 17.

"I feel the pain a little bit in my back and also in the abdomen but I bowled today in the net. I am hopeful that I will be okay before the match," said Mashrafe.

The leading Bangladesh paceman was also worried about the fact that he had to fly home without playing any match when the Tigers last toured Sri Lanka in 2005.

Selector Akram Khan, who is travelling with the team, however informed that there was nothing serious about his injury.

"Yes, he has complained about back pain, but it's not that serious. I believe he will be okay before the first Test," said the former Bangladesh skipper.

Bangladesh launch their first away series after a successful World Cup with the first Test starting on Monday.

Like Akram, the other team members were also unconcerned about his backache, which Mashrafe had successfully endured during the World Cup in the West Indies and in the home series against India last month.

The Tigers trained indoors at the Colombo Cricket Club ground, where their only three-day practice match was tapered to a rain-ruled draw.