Rubel out for 4 to 6 weeks

Pacer Rubel Hossain underwent surgery yesterday and will need four to six weeks to recover from an injury which was sustained after the Tigers' semifinal clash against India in the ICC Champions Trophy in Birmingham.

Rubel reportedly claimed that he suffered the injury, between his right eye and ear, as he collided with a door in the team hotel in Birmingham but interestingly nobody with the team in England was aware of the injury.

"I think Rubel narrowly escaped serious injury because it could have been severe had it hit the eye. A fracture was diagnosed in the zygomatic arch. After discussing with surgeons we went for surgery and accordingly Rubel underwent surgery today [Wednesday]. Everything is okay now and he will be released from hospital tomorrow if the X-ray report shows everything is fine," BCB physician Dr. Debashish Chowdhury told reporters yesterday at Mirpur.

Rubel is expected to recover before the start of the two-match Test series against Australia at home.

Australia will arrive in Dhaka on August 18 and play the first Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur from August 27. The second Test will be held at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong from September 4.