Aftab scare for Tigers

IT LOOKS BAD: Bangladesh top-order batsman Aftab Ahmed (C) is in agony as team physio Darryn Lifson (R) assesses the damage on his ring finger in the right hand at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. Photo: STAR

Aftab Ahmed is unlikely to play the upcoming tri-series and Asia Cup as the aggressive middle-order batsman suffered a finger injury during practice at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
With just a week left for the start of the tri-series involving India and Pakistan, the Chittagonian was hit on the ring finger of his right hand after he tried to fend at a rising delivery from pacer Mahbubul Alam during a net session at the centre wicket.
The initial report saw a fracture on the finger but the final decision is expected to be taken today after consultation with an orthopedics specialist.
"We hope it would not be serious but the initial report shows a fracture on his finger. We will get the final report from our physio (Darryn Lifson) and then decide on our next course of action," informed chief selector Rafiqul Alam yesterday.
"There is a lot of pain on the finger and it is also swelled. Everything will depend on the physio's report whether there will be a need for any operation," said Aftab adding that initially he could not comprehend the gravity of the injury.
This is Aftab's second injury in the space of three months after a Jacques Kallis bouncer struck his face at his hometown during the second Test against South Africa in March. He was out for nearly three weeks and returned to play in the Ireland one-day series.
But this finger injury has come as a shock because the selectors struggled to find a replacement of Shakib Al Hasan, who decided to keep himself away from cricket to attend HSC examinations, when they announced a 14-member squad for the tri-nation tournament and a 15-member team for the Asia Cup in Pakistan.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) are yet to give any official announcement on Aftab's injury but team operations manager Shafiqul Haque said that the right-hander would require at least 5-6 weeks to recover from the injury.
The tri-series will start from June 8 with the match between hosts Bangladesh and Pakistan at Mirpur while Bangladesh's Asia Cup campaign will start on June 24 with the match against United Arab Emirates.
Aftab was not in good form as he scored only 202 runs in his last ten one-day internationals with only two half centuries, and his batting in the recently concluded Premier League was also disappointing but still he is considered a vital player in the Bangladesh middle-order.
"He (Aftab) is a very important player in the team and we want to wait for him. We may get his service if it is a minor fracture. We are hoping for good news," said Rafiq.
Aftab's injury however may give Alok Kapali a chance to make a comeback to the national side.
Stylish right-hander Kapali was not considered as the replacement of Shakib because the Rafiqul Alam-led selection panel emphasised on some international engagement before making the comeback.
But there is now hardly any choice for the selectors to think of any new player other than Kapali, who was included in the reserve bench for both tournaments and also included in the Bangladesh A team for the tours to Ireland and England.