BAN vs SL | Taskin, Shoriful ruled out of first Test against visitors

Bangladesh fast bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam have been ruled out of the first Test against Sri Lanka due to their respective injuries. The right-arm pacer has been ruled out of a shoulder injury, which he surfaced in South Africa last month. Meanwhile, the left-arm speedster suffered abdominal woes. 

"Taskin is unlikely to play against Sri Lanka while Shoriful is likely to miss the opening Test against the Lankans at home," said Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chairman Jalal Yunus.

"Taskin had complained of right shoulder pain and difficulty of movement during Bangladesh's first Test against South Africa earlier this month. He received physiotherapy, supportive taping and painkillers for bowling in the second innings and missed the subsequent second Test, which the Tigers lost by 332 runs. 

His recovery is expected to take around three weeks," Beyjedul, the Bangladesh team physio, added.

The BCB chairman Jalal Yunus expressed his concern over the right-arm pacer and said, "Taskin is now going through conservative treatment, but we want to send him to England and assess his status and take necessary steps so that when he returns, he is fully fit."

On the other hand, BCB plans to send Shoriful Islam abroad for abdominal issues. As a result, he will miss the first Test of the series, slated to commence next month.

Allegedly, the right-arm bowler had to miss the Indian Premier League to make himself available in the Test series against South Africa. For that, the BCB chairman is thinking of compensating Taskin.

"We will try to compensate him financially, and we have kept that in our mind, but you must consider that even he said that the series was more important than IPL. So, money is not the major issue, but surely, we are thinking of how we can compensate him."

"We want them to sort out all their physical issues and return fully fit as we have a lot of international cricket ahead," Concluded Jalal Yunus.

The Tigers have a packed international schedule ahead, and the BCB would be hoping for the quick recovery of both Taskin and Shoriful.