Nahid Rana, Taskin Ahmed fly to Australia for specialist checks amid Bangladesh injury crisis
Synopsis
Bangladesh are heading into their two-Test Australia tour with four key players managing or sidelined by injuries. Nahid Rana's trip to see a lower-limb specialist reveals a chronic shinbone condition he has quietly played through for years — a deeper concern than the side strain that already ruled him out of the series.
Key Takeaways
Nahid Rana and Taskin Ahmed flew to Australia on Tuesday night for specialist medical evaluations alongside physiotherapist Bayjedul Islam .
Nahid is consulting a lower-limb specialist for chronic shinbone pain in both legs — separate from the side strain that ruled him out of the Test series.
Taskin is seeking a third opinion on a recurring ankle problem ; he remains in the squad for the first Test .
Shoriful Islam will miss the opening Test due to a hamstring injury ; Litton Das is out with a left calf injury but could return for the second Test if he clears a fitness test around 13 August .
Bangladesh play a warm-up against a Cricket Australia XI in Darwin from 3 August ; the first Test starts 13 August in Darwin, the second in Mackay .
Bangladesh fast bowlers Nahid Rana and Taskin Ahmed departed for Australia on Tuesday night accompanied by national team physiotherapist Bayjedul Islam, as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) seeks specialist medical evaluations ahead of the country's two-Test tour. The trip underscores the mounting injury concerns threatening Bangladesh's preparations for a series that carries ICC World Test Championship cycle points.
Nahid Rana's Chronic Shinbone Condition
Nahid has already been ruled out of the upcoming Test series after sustaining a left-side strain during the second T20I against Zimbabwe earlier this month. However, the Australia visit is not primarily about that recent muscle injury. According to reports, Nahid has battled chronic pain in both shinbones since the early stages of his career and has been managing the condition to remain available for selection.
A BCB official was quoted as saying: 'Nahid Rana, from his early days, has been suffering from shinbone pain in both legs and he is playing by managing it. We earlier planned that if we travel to Australia or England, we would assess his shinbone issues by sitting with a lower-limb specialist.' The official clarified: 'He is travelling to Australia to sit with a shinbone specialist, but he is not travelling there for side-strain issues because his shinbone pain is a chronic injury.'
Taskin Ahmed's Recurring Ankle Problem
Taskin Ahmed, who has been named in Bangladesh's squad for the opening Test, is travelling to Australia for a separate medical assessment. His visit is unrelated to the shoulder trouble that has previously disrupted his career. The pacer is seeking a third specialist opinion on a recurring ankle problem that has resurfaced at different points during his career.
'Taskin is visiting for the ankle issue that he sustained earlier at different points of his career, and we want to have a third opinion regarding its status,' the BCB official said.
Other Injury Absentees
The injury list extends beyond the two travelling pacers. Left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam will miss the first Test as he continues rehabilitation from a hamstring injury. Wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das is also unavailable for the opener due to a left calf injury, though the board remains hopeful of his return later in the series.
Litton is scheduled to begin running and conditioning drills from 28 July, with a fitness test pencilled in for around 13 August. A successful clearance could see him considered for the second Test.
Tour Schedule and What's Next
Bangladesh are expected to arrive in Australia early next month. The squad will play a three-day warm-up fixture against a Cricket Australia XI in Darwin from 3 August. The first Test begins in Darwin on 13 August, with the second Test scheduled in Mackay. Both matches are part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle.
With four frontline players either ruled out or racing against time to be fit, Bangladesh's pace attack faces a significant depth test before a ball is bowled in the series.
Point of View
But doing so days before a Test series begins is a sign of a system playing catch-up. Bangladesh's pace resources are thin at the best of times; arriving in Australia with this injury cloud will test both squad depth and the coaching staff's ability to build match-readiness from a warm-up fixture alone.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Nahid Rana and Taskin Ahmed travelling to Australia early?
Nahid Rana and Taskin Ahmed are travelling to Australia ahead of Bangladesh's two-Test tour to undergo specialist medical evaluations — Nahid for a chronic shinbone condition affecting both legs, and Taskin for a recurring ankle problem. The trip is separate from the regular squad travel and is focused solely on obtaining expert medical opinions.
Is Nahid Rana playing in the Australia Test series?
No, Nahid Rana has already been ruled out of the two-Test series after suffering a left-side strain during the second T20I against Zimbabwe. His Australia visit is specifically to consult a lower-limb specialist about a long-standing chronic shinbone condition, not the recent muscle injury.
What is Taskin Ahmed's injury status for the first Test?
Taskin Ahmed remains in Bangladesh's squad for the first Test in Darwin on 13 August. He is travelling to Australia early to seek a third specialist opinion on a recurring ankle problem that has troubled him at various stages of his career.
Which other Bangladesh players are unavailable for the first Test?
Left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam is out of the first Test due to a hamstring injury, and wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das is unavailable with a left calf injury. Litton could return for the second Test if he passes a fitness assessment around 13 August.
What is Bangladesh's schedule for the Australia tour?
Bangladesh will play a three-day warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI in Darwin from 3 August. The first Test begins in Darwin on 13 August, followed by the second Test in Mackay — both part of the ICC World Test Championship cycle.
