Sunday, November 16, 2008

Back injury forces Rasel to fly home

Left-arm medium-pacer Sajidul Islam has been called up to Bangladesh's Test squad in South Africa as a last-minute replacement for Syed Rasel, who's been forced to return home after a back injury flared up.

Sajidul is expected to reach South Africa on November 17, two days before the first Test against South Africa in Bloemfontein. He had played in the two Tests against New Zealand in January this year during Bangladesh's tour of the country; Sajidul was added to the touring party after Rasel, also a left-armer, dislocated a shoulder during a practice game in December last year. Sajidul has taken 17 wickets in five games this season in the National Cricket League, Bangladesh's domestic first-class competition, at 19 apiece.

Rasel has been in and out of Bangladesh's side since that shoulder dislocation, plagued by various injury problems. He has played only eight of Bangladesh's 26 ODIs this year, and hasn't played in a Test since July 2007. Like the other bowlers, Rasel didn't have too much success in the ODI leg of their South Africa trip, giving away 131 runs in 20 overs for his two wickets. Bangladesh's selectors had retained the players in their limited-overs squad for the two Tests.

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