Mushfiqur Rahim out of Bangladesh vs West Indies first Test with finger injury
Synopsis
Bangladesh face the West Indies in Dhaka without their most experienced batter — Mushfiqur Rahim — after a net-session contusion left him unable to wear his wicketkeeping gloves. With WTC final qualification on the line and six Tests remaining, the timing couldn't be worse for Bangladesh cricket.
Key Takeaways
Mushfiqur Rahim has been ruled out of the first Test against West Indies in Dhaka due to a contusion on his index finger sustained in a net session on Tuesday .
An X-ray ruled out a tear; the BCB medical team classified it as a contusion and expects recovery within three days .
Towhid Hridoy has been named in the playing XI in Mushfiqur's place for the series opener.
Mushfiqur is expected to return for the second Test in Sylhet , beginning 5 November .
Bangladesh need four wins and at least one draw from six remaining Tests to keep their WTC final hopes alive for the first time.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bat first in Dhaka.
Mushfiqur Rahim has been ruled out of the first Test between Bangladesh and the West Indies, beginning 28 October 2026 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka, after failing to recover adequately from a contusion on his index finger sustained during a net session. The veteran wicketkeeper-batter is expected to return for the second Test in Sylhet, scheduled to begin on 5 November.
How the Injury Happened
Mushfiqur was struck on his index finger by a delivery from a net bowler while batting in the nets at the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Academy on Tuesday, just a day before the series opener. The impact forced him to cut short his session. While an initial assessment did not indicate a serious issue, he continued to experience significant discomfort the following morning — notably while trying to put on his wicketkeeping gloves.
An X-ray subsequently ruled out a tear, but the Bangladesh medical team decided against risking his participation. Team physio Bayjedul Islam Khan confirmed the diagnosis as a contusion and outlined the expected recovery timeline.
'Mushfiqur Rahim got hurt on his index finger during practice yesterday. He was under observation afterwards. But there wasn't sufficient improvement till this morning. It is a contusion injury. We are hopeful that he will recover in the next three days. He will be available for the next Test,' Khan said in a BCB statement.
Towhid Hridoy Steps Into the XI
Mushfiqur's unavailability has opened the door for Towhid Hridoy, who has been named in Bangladesh's playing XI for the series opener. Hridoy has limited Test experience, having made his debut against Zimbabwe in Harare earlier this year. The youngster will be expected to fill a sizable void in the middle order.
Mushfiqur's Importance to Bangladesh
The 38-year-old Mushfiqur remains one of Bangladesh's most important batting assets in the red-ball format. He became the first Bangladesh cricketer to appear in 100 Tests last year and has maintained a batting average above 40 across his six matches since reaching that milestone. His most recent Test outing was against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi earlier this month, where he scored a duck in the first innings before recovering with an 81 in the second.
Despite a largely injury-free career, Mushfiqur has previously missed a home Test against Sri Lanka for personal reasons. His last injury-enforced absence prior to this came during Bangladesh's tour of the West Indies in November 2024.
WTC Stakes for Bangladesh
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bat first in Dhaka, setting up a challenging opening day without one of the team's senior figures. The two-Test series carries considerable weight beyond the result: with six Tests still remaining in the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, Bangladesh require four wins and at least one draw to keep alive their hopes of reaching the WTC final for the first time. This comes amid a period when Bangladesh are trying to establish themselves as a consistent force in Test cricket, making every match in this cycle crucial.
Point of View
However brief, underlines Bangladesh's long-standing fragility in Test batting depth — one injury to their most experienced batter and a young debutant steps in. The real concern is not the first Test but the cumulative pressure this puts on a squad chasing an historic WTC final berth. Bangladesh need near-perfect results from their remaining six fixtures, and losing even a single match while Mushfiqur is unavailable could effectively end that ambition. The BCB's decision to be conservative with a 'no tear' injury is medically sound, but it also signals just how indispensable Mushfiqur remains at 38 — a succession question the board has yet to credibly answer.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Mushfiqur Rahim missing the first Test against West Indies?
Mushfiqur Rahim sustained a contusion on his index finger during a net session at the BCB Academy on Tuesday and did not recover sufficiently to play. An X-ray ruled out a tear, but the medical team decided not to risk his participation in the Dhaka Test.
When will Mushfiqur Rahim return to the Bangladesh Test team?
The BCB medical team expects Mushfiqur to recover within three days, making him available for the second Test in Sylhet, which begins on 5 November 2026.
Who replaces Mushfiqur Rahim in the Bangladesh XI for the Dhaka Test?
Towhid Hridoy has been named in Bangladesh's playing XI for the first Test. Hridoy made his Test debut against Zimbabwe in Harare earlier this year and has limited experience in the format.
What are the World Test Championship implications for Bangladesh in this series?
Bangladesh need four wins and at least one draw from their remaining six Tests in the 2025–27 WTC cycle to qualify for the final for the first time. The two-Test series against West Indies is a key part of that push.
How significant is Mushfiqur Rahim in Bangladesh's Test cricket history?
Mushfiqur Rahim is Bangladesh's most capped Test player, having become the first from the country to appear in 100 Tests last year. He averages above 40 in the six Tests since reaching that milestone and is widely regarded as the anchor of Bangladesh's Test batting line-up.
