Nahid Rana races against time for West Indies Tests after fresh glute injury derails rehabilitation

Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana's availability for the upcoming home Test series against West Indies hangs in the balance, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) set to assess the fast bowler's condition on October 11 before deciding whether he can feature in the two-match series, scheduled for October-November as part of the ICC World Test Championship.

Rana, who had been working his way back towards a comeback after being sidelined by a grade-two side strain sustained during Bangladesh's tour of Zimbabwe earlier this year, has suffered another setback. The original injury had already forced him to miss the tour of Australia, the Asian Games and the ongoing Test series against Afghanistan. Now, during his rehabilitation, the pacer has picked up a fresh injury to his glute region, ruling him out of the upcoming tri-series in the UAE involving Afghanistan and Zimbabwe.

"Rana will have an assessment tomorrow (October 11), and only then will we get a clear picture of his injury status," a member of the selection panel confirmed to Cricbuzz on Saturday. "We are hoping he will be available for the West Indies, but whether he can make it for both Tests or only one remains to be seen, as it will depend on his fitness clearance."

Second opinion on the cards

It is understood that the BCB is considering sending Rana abroad for a second opinion, with officials suspecting the presence of a cyst in the affected area. The board is expected to seek an expert opinion within Bangladesh first before deciding on the next course of action, and the pacer could be sent to Qatar's Aspetar Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, a renowned centre for sports medicine, for further assessment.

The immediate priority for the board's medical team is to establish the cause of the persistent pain in Rana's glute region — a determination that will ultimately shape the timeline for his return to full fitness.

Already sidelined for the tri-series

Rana's absence from the tri-nation event had already been confirmed when Bangladesh announced their squad on October 10, the same day mystery spinner Aliss Al Islam earned a call-up for the tournament in the UAE. "Rana is not considered for the tri-nation due to his injury as he is going through rehabilitation," selector Bashar said at the time. The squad, to be led by captain Litton Das, also saw Parvez Hossain and Mohammad Saifuddin left out after both had featured in the recent ODI series against Zimbabwe.

With West Indies due to arrive for two Tests that carry World Test Championship points, Bangladesh will hope the October 11 assessment brings clarity on whether Rana can play any part in the series — or whether the focus must shift fully to a longer-term recovery.