Riyad blow for Tigers

Key Bangladesh batsman Mahmudullah Riyad has been ruled out of the India series after fracturing his index finger while training at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Thursday.

Mahmudullah joined the casualty list of the injury-hit Tigers hours after inspirational ODI captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza barely escaped a fatal accident while taking a rickshaw-ride to the home Bangladesh cricket in Mirpur at around 8.30am.

Mashrafe sustained deep cuts to both hands and different parts of his body due to the impact from a fall he took after the rickshaw he was on was hit by a speeding bus at Kalshi road in Mirpur.

While Mashrafe avoided a disaster, Mahmudullah could hardly console himself after the freak injury he picked up while he was involved in catching practice.

An X-ray report later confirmed a fracture on his left index finger and Mahmudullah has been advised to nurse the injury, which takes at least three to four weeks to heal.

The BCB announced Nasir Hossain as a replacement for injured Mahmudullah in the 14-man Test squad. Bangladesh's one-off Test against India starts on June 10 at Fatullah.

Mahmudullah, an integral part of the Tigers' ODI team, will miss the chance to prove a point against a team he was dismissed to in controversial fashion during the World Cup quarterfinal at the MCG in March this year. The 29-year-old became the first Bangladeshi to score back-to-back hundreds in this year's World Cup down under.